It’s been a graveyard carnival for short priced favourites and they lay buried in feature races left right and centre this spring and while Tempted was doing the deed in the G1 Everest when de-throning the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising, she was on the receiving end at Flemington on Saturday.
The brilliant mare had not been beaten since running second in last year’s Everest, but amazingly she finished out of the top three in fifth place as the field hit the line in the $3million Group I VRC Champions Sprint (1200m).
Victory went to progressive Blue Point (IRE) mare Point Barrow, who was given a patient ride by Mark Zahra seeking the best ground and the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained mare surged late to snatch a half length win over 100-1 shot Plaintiff with seasoned G1 mare Skybird in third place ahead of the ever consistent Headwall.
Tempted and Joliestar, the only horse seriously considered to beat her, ran fifth and sixth nearly two lengths back.
The trifecta paid $9,000 and change, while the first four delivered a hefty $53,574 for the lucky punters that went wide of the favourites.
Full throttle ?? POINT BARROW upsets the field and charges to Group 1 glory in the VRC Champions Sprint down the Flemington straight. #StakesDay https://t.co/WfVhsPRjHp
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 7, 2026
“It's been a long week and the team turned her out in great shape. She's a good mare and I had good confidence coming into the race albeit with Tempted in the field. She's been a bloody good mare for a while and it's been a long time coming. I'm glad she's got the win at the top level,” said Sam Freedman.
"She had been set for the race since the start of the prep. Once the rain didn't come, I knew she would reel off a brilliant last 400 (metres) and Mark Zahra, he tends to get it right on the big days."
Mark Zahra produced a fresh mare in the best ground and got the right result.
"I was following Tempted but I didn't like how far out they were coming in the straight because it was out in the worst part,” he said.
“I waited and just needed a little bit of room when I went in. She's got such a good turn of foot I was able to part the seas and she was in for the fight late.
“They came at her late. She dug in and I always say the fresh horse on the scene, that hasn't been to The Everest, is the one and she's got the chips. A good effort."
The seventh Group I winner worldwide for Darley shuttler Blue Point (IRE), Point Barrow has the overall record of eight wins from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $2.6million.
Bred by Yarraman Park in partnership with Robert and Barbara McClure of Morning Rise Stud, Point Barrow was sold for $400,000 to her trainers at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in the Yarraman Park draft.
She runs for an ownership group that includes the McClures along with Halo Racing Services (the late Colin McKenna)and Ridgmont.
Point Barrow is the second foal and second winner from Group III winning Reward for Effort mare Take Pride, who was bought from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2017 for $550,000 by James Bester Bloodstock and comes from the family of Caulfield Cup winner Mummify.
Take Pride has a yearling colt by Hellbent that will head to Magic Millions in the Yarraman Park draft, but will have no foal this spring after missing last year and has now been covered by Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.
