When Russell Reynolds’ Mysterious Quartet lined up in Wednesday’s heats of the Bathurst Gold Chalice series few thought he would go on to make the $40,000 final on Saturday night.
However, the $105.80 outsider defied punters by running third in his 2130 metre heat and doing so in quick enough time to advance to the three-year-old colts and geldings decider.
Bathurst driver John Vautin was in the gig for the heat and admitted the effort came as a surprise.
“He couldn’t get out, he was stuck behind the leader, but it was a good effort to stick on the leader's back,” he said.
“It was quiet a shock because he wasn’t really in that good form.”
The two that bettered Mysterious Quartet, victor Bourgeoisie ($2.90) and runner-up One Art Rite ($3.40) carried much better form into the Chalice heat as between them they had notched up 12 wins so far this season.
Bourgeoisie, a runner in last year’s Gold Crown final, had the led on the bell and went on to win by three meters for Ben Settree, One Art Rite (Neil Day) nudging Mysterious Quartet out by a neck in a 2:01.4 mile rate.
It was just the second placing in six starts this season for Reynolds’ Brioso Hanover x Breenys Lady colt.
The effort is already an improvement on last year’s Gold Crown Carnival campaign as Mysterious Quartet placed third in his crown heat and a disappointing seventh in the consolation final.
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