Mount Wins The Last At 'Old' Randwick
- Saturday, 05 November 2011 08:16
The final race at Randwick on Saturday wasn't kind to punters but was a great thrill for jockey Jeff Penza who scored on outsider Mount Verde.
"That was awesome," Penza said after the John Wenman-trained gelding burst through from back in the field to take out the Tony Patramanis Handicap (1100m) as a $51 chance.
"I was only just behind the barriers talking to one of the barrier attendants who was leading me around and looking back at the stand saying 'we're going to miss this sight'," Penza said.
"It's only going to be bigger and better of course, but I'm certainly going to miss it anyway. And to come out and win the race just a couple of minutes later was just awesome."
The Randwick meeting on Saturday was promoted as the "Grandstand Finish", as work will start next week on a $150 million redevelopment of facilities.
Mount Verde raced back in the field but surged through a gap late to defeat Mighty Obvious by a head with a long neck to Hardbreak Hotel in third.
"Obviously the horse was out of form and the instructions were just to help him out and try to get him to hit the line," Penza said.
"We took him a bit by surprise, he got through a nice gap there and next thing he was in front right by the post which was great."
