Punters were on good terms with themselves when the favourites Dreamforce, Flow and Jungle Edge were fighting out of the finish of Saturday's Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens, then out of the clouds came Jay Ford on the $41 outsider Liapari.
One of four runners in the race for champion trainer Chris Waller, Liapari had not registered a win since July last year.
Waller was one of the few on course to think Liapari would figure in the finish four hundred metres from home. (photo Steve Hart)
"I was getting confident at that point because there was plenty of speed on," Waller told AAP.
"It was a high-pressure race. They were flying, and it set it up for the
"Jungle Edge is a good horse and you know when he is in the race the speed is on."
"Jay is a good rider and at light
Originally trained in New Zealand, Liapari earned his first black-type win, advancing his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 7 thirds from 35 starts with earnings of $451,420.
The 5yo homebred son of Nom du Jeu is one of two winners from three named foals out of the 4-time winning Al Akbar mare Tradewind a half-sister to the stakes-placed winners Fore Stay (Yachtie), Downwind (Grosvenor) and Rowena's Delight (Grosvenor).
Expected to make his next start in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill in a fortnight, Liapari becomes the third stakes-winner for Group 1 ATC Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu (Montjeu).
