Ovation landed an upset victory in the $2 million Martell Cup to give apprentice Way Leung the biggest success of his career and bring some relief for the struggling Lawrie Fownes stable.
Leung took the race by the scruff of the neck after finding the lead on the rail from gate 10 and Ovation was never headed as he kept up the gallop to score by 1.75 lengths. Victory Warrior finished fast, but too late, to take second by a head from favourite Smart Winner.
Assistant trainer Caspar Fownes, overseeing the stable's runners in the absence of his father, who has been at the sales in Sydney, said the hopes for Ovation had been tempered by the draw, but paid tribute to Leung's ride on the 37-1 shot. 'You can't have too much confidence from that draw, but I told the owners the horse was very fit and if he could get to the lead he would be very hard to run down.
'I told the jockey the same and instructed him to jump and really push him to get to the rail by all possible means, within the rules of course.
'Full credit to the lad, he carried out the instructions to the letter. There wasn't room for half-measures and he really had to commit to get there, but once they got to the 600 metres and he was in front, I knew he'd take some catching.'
Ovation has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the Fownes stable, having won over course and distance when ideally drawn in gate one back in early December. Since then, Fownes had sent out only one winner until last night's success, while Ovation had followed a second place on his return from a spell with two disappointing efforts over longer trips in high-grade company.
'There aren't many races for this horse off a rating of 100, but he came in nicely at the weights tonight and was very happy coming back from 1,650 metres, which was too far for him,' Fownes added.
