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Amovatio created a slice of Winter Championship history with his win in the 2015 decider at Flemington on Saturday.
The four-year-old set a record for the heaviest weight carried to victory in the prestigious series when he lumped 60kg to a thrilling victory in the $150,000 Listed event.
Under the urgings of Damien Oliver, the Chris Waller-trained gelding – who started at $9.50 – scraped home by a short-half-head from $3.90 favourite Mr Utopia with $31 chance Coronation Shallan just a short head away third.
Amovatio assumed the weight-carrying record from Glaneuse, who in 2012 completed back-to-back victories in the series first run in 1980 under 59kg.
He also had a wide barrier to overcome – 13 in the field of 15 – which, combined with the weight, was what Waller’s Melbourne foreperson Justine Hales said had the stable concerned heading into the race.
“His work’s been super, he’s a horse that does very well so you’ve got to be a little bit careful because he can get away on you, but his coat’s been great,” Hales said.
“We were just a bit worried with the weight and wide draw.”
The victory was the first Winter Championship success for Waller and second for Hall of Fame hoop Oliver, who previously scored aboard Gold Salute in 2009.
It was back-to-back wins for Amovatio, who won at a heat over 1400m at his previous start, and Oliver was full of credit for his will to win.
“I knew we had to have a pretty good run to defy the weights of last start and he got back on the inside but we were able to save ground and get a good run through,” Oliver said.
“He got a little keen first time in the blinkers last time, but today he travelled beautifully for me. We got a nice run through and every time a gap came he just stuck his head into it and finished really strongly.
“Fortunately he just put his head out at the right time.”
Mr Utopia’s rider Dwayne Dunn said his mount’s effort to finish second was amazing given how fiercely he raced in the first half of the event, while Steven Arnold, rider of Tried And Tired, who was $11 into $7, reported that his mount was better suited over shorter trips.
Source: racing.com