A HUGE plunge on Mr Judge went astray in the final event when the English import could only finish fourth to the Lawrie Fownes-trained Blazing Blade (6-1).
In one of the season's most spectacular betting forays, Mr Judge, starting for the first time for champion trainer Ivan Allan, was backed down from 15-1 to 5-1 with a total of $9.4 million bet on the four-year-old.
Race favourite was Allan's other runner, Mighty Mighty (9-2) who finished third. Mr Judge did not get the best of runs under claimer Stanley K. M. Chin but came home well down the outside.
Icy Bet (45-1), noted for liking an ease in the ground, cut Mighty Mighty out of the quinella in the last stride.
Blazing Blade won comfortably under a strong ride from Lance O'Sullivan and never looked in danger after turning for home.
