Oamaru Force mare Mid Summer Music was coming off a close second place finish in the All Victorian Sprint Final at Flemington, and started the raging $1.75 favourite in the $125,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).

Ridden by Black Caviar’s regular hoop Luke Nolen, Mid Summer Music held on in a thrilling photo finish to defeat the Darren Weir-trained Rue Maple ($8.50) by a head.

Crossing a further two lengths away in third was Colin Davies’ Stanzout ($17).

Michelle Payne, the jockey aboard runner-up Rue Maple, lodged a protest against Nolen and Mid Summer Music for interference in the final 100 metres, but it was dismissed and Mid Summer Music held on to her title as the 2011 Bletchingly Stakes winner.

The victory, the mare’s first Group race win, was Mid Summer Music’s eighth from 13 career starts, which have earned her over $308,400 in prize money.

“She won her maiden at Warracknabeal and I suggested to the owners that she might have had her birthday,” Moody said on Saturday.

“Thankfully, at the insistence of Linda Meech (Jockey) and John Ivell, who is a friend of all the owners, they suggested to me that there was much more in her than I saw and, lo and behold, here we are 18 months later winning a Group 3.

Moody, who trained 103.5 city winners over the season, named the $125,000 Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 13 as the next race target for Mid Summer Music.

“She’s probably got to have another crack at a race like the Cockram here in a couple of weeks,” he said.

“She’s in great form, six furlongs around her (suits).”

To back Mid Summer Music at the hottest horse racing odds at her next start in the Cockram, and for access to the best 2011 Melbourne Cup betting markets, visit Luxbet today.

Even better, bet on the races for free thanks to Luxbet’s $400 bonus bet offer available to all new depositing customers that join this spring and quote the codeword BONUSBET at Luxbet!

2011 Bletchingly Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Shoot Out claimed the feature race of the day as the proven stayer outclassed a field of sprint specialists, and in turn sent out a warning to fellow Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival hopefuls that he will be one to beat.

John Wallace, Shoot Out’s trainer, saw punters overlook the rising four-year-old at Sportbet, but was not disheartened knowing the gelding was not at peak fitness, with the Bletchingly his first jump since April.

The High Chaparral gelding backed up his Group One AJC Australian Derby win with the Bletchingly victory, and is due to jump on the 14^th of August back at Caulfield in the Group Two JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) against a top quality field – so make sure you follow him at SportsBet.

Top quality jockey Stathi Khatsidis took the reins for Shoot Out and directed him to the front of the field off the jump where the Gold Coast-based gelding stayed until he turned up the gears into the straight, and powered forward to take the win.

It was the dream start for the Wallace team, with bigger and better things on the horizon for the rising four-year-old, including the $3 million Group One Cox Plate (2040m) on the 23^rd of October, and nominations already in place for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on the 16^th of October.

The main goal for Shoot Out is of course Australia’s greatest race – the 150^th Melbourne Cup – and scheduled to take place on the 2^nd of November at Flemington Racecourse, gives the potential star of the spring another three months to reach full fitness.

Shoot Out is currently at $23 with SportingBet to take out the full honours of the 2010 Melbourne Cup, and if he continues to improve over the course of the spring could be a lucrative early market punt for those looking to make a big win!

Prior to the jump, winner of The Goodwood, Velocitea, was favourite to win but finished third – three-quarters of a length behind second place Stanzout, proving to horse racing punters that going with the favourites is not always to best bet to place.

Stanzout was half a length off the winning pace, an improvement on the gelding’s last start which saw him finish fourth in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) to Reward For Effort.

Claiming the fourth place this time around was the Luke Oliver-trained Royal Ida, who has responded well to treatment following the geldings pulled muscle at the back end of his third-placed John Monash Stakes run.

Next on the cards for the 2010 Bletchingly Stakes winner is the $200,000 Group Two JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) on the 14^th of August at Caulfield, so if you are looking to follow Shoot Out’s spring racing campaign make sure to sign up with SportsBet so you can see the money come rolling in!

2010 Bletchingly Stakes Results

With the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival kicking off next month, the 2010 Bletchingly Stakes presents some promising spring runners a great chance to have their first-up starts and set the tone for the season.

Two horses are dominating the betting markets with 2010 Melbourne Cup hopeful Shootout and classy mare Velocitea set to create a scintillating showdown on Saturday.

Leading online bookmaker SportsBet has Mick Price’s four-year-old Velocitea installed as the favourite currently paying $3.50 for a win.

Winner of the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) back in May, Velocitea has an impressive record over this distance and is a genuine sprinter with a top chance here.

Drawn in barrier six, Velocitea’s biggest threat will come from her inside as the John Wallace-trained Shoot Out jumps from barrier one.

Due to be ridden by star hoop Stathi Katsidis, High Chaparral gelding Shoot Out is another Group 1 winner having taken out the AJC Derby (2400m) last season.

Gold Coast-based trainer Wallace is hoping to kick off an ambitious spring campaign that has the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m) and $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the agenda for the versatile Shoot Out, with a win in the Bletchingly Stakes.

The $4.20 second elect at SportsBet, Shoot Out can win this at good odds.

In a quality field of 11 runners, the best chances for Place bets at SportsBet are Victorian Sprint Series winning mare Elumino, veteran nine-year-old Royal Ida and improving J Monash Stakes runner-up Keano.

To further aid with your betting selections check out our detailed Bletchingly Stakes Form Guide.

Programmed as the sixth Caulfield race for Saturday, the 2010 Bletchingly Stakes will jump at 3:07pm.

Avoid the inferior odds and time-wasting lines at the TAB and check out the full betting markets online at SportsBet today!

2010 Bletchingly Stakes Final Field, Barrier Draw & Odds

*Odds provided by SportsBet and are subject to change

The most famous of the 12 nominees, sure to start as the hot pre-race favourite in the SportsBet betting markets, is dual Group 1 winner Shoot Out.

The John Wallace-trained High Chaparral gelding has wins in the Randwick Guineas and AJC Derby to his credit and is a talented galloper over sprint and staying distance, making him very dangerous first-up in the Bletchingly Stakes.

Follow the link to read more about Shoot Out’s 2010 Melbourne Cup campaign.

Another strong contender for Saturday’s Bletchingly Stakes is Peter Moody’s classy four-year-old mare Elumino.

Coming off a last start win in the All Victorian Sprint Series (1200m) at Flemington, Elumino is a consistent sprinter having won six of her 14 race starts and will be a top chance with a good barrier draw.

Winner of the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville back in May, Velocitea is also set to resume racing in the Bletchingly Stakes.

Trained by Mick Price the locally prepared mare had a stunning autumn campaign and is looking to return to winning form on Saturday to start her spring campaign.

Other 2010 Bletchingly Stakes nominees include veteran eight-year-old Encosta De Lago gelding Douro Valley, Colin Davies’ stable star Stanzout who ran a gallant fourth to Reward for Effort in the Listed J Monash Stakes (1100m) last start, and the Michael Moroney-trained Group 1 winning gelding Mr Baritone.

A more detailed Bletchingly Stakes race and betting preview will be published here as soon as the final field of starters is announced, so make sure you return before placing your Bletchingly Stakes wagers at SportsBet.

2010 Bletchingly Stakes Nominations