After being deemed not good enough to gain a place in the Cox Plate, Trap For Fools defied the Irish Derby winner Latrobe and the Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut in Saturday's $2 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and credit trainer Jarrod McLean with the first Group 1 win of his career.
Beaten into second place by Ventura Storm (IRE) in the Group II Moonee Valley Gold Cup at his most recent start, Trap For Fools was rated perfectly in front by the unstoppable Irishman John Allen.
Latrobe and Extra Brut were both gradually gaining on the courageous 5yo son of Poet's Voice (GB) but the Joseph O'Brien-trained Latrobe (Camelot) came up a head short with Extra Brut (Domesday) a short-neck back in third. (photos Grant Courtney).
A 7-time winner in Western Australia for Lindsay Smith, Trap For Fools advances his record to 13 wins, 5 seconds and three thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $1,821,380.
"It's a huge thrill to win today," McLean said.
"I've learnt so much from Darren (Weir) over the years. I think I help him as much as he helps me but this was a great team effort.
"Weary is a great man and likes people to do well around him and I'm rapt to be a small part of it.
"(Perth trainer) Lindsay Smith has been terrific to me.
"He sent me over Cougar Express - winning a Grand National Hurdle was a big thrill and now I've got a Group 1 with this bloke.
"It was disappointing missing the Cox Plate.
"On that occasion, I said things happen for a reason and maybe this was meant to be."
Trap For Fools is the only stakes winner for his dam Old Money who was one of the stars of racing in the west in 2000 with wins in the Group 1 WATC West. Australian Derby, Group II WATC C.B. Cox Stakes and Group III WATC West Australian Oaks when carrying the colours of Bob and Sandra Peters.
The daughter of Old Spice was sold to American interests and she won an Allowance at Santa Anita and was third in the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes.
Retired to stud in America, Old Money had a troubled history and was repatriated in 2008.
She was no more productive back home, leaving four foals in nine years before her death in January 2016.
Trap For Fools is her penultimate foal, with just the unraced 3yo colt by Carlton House (GB) named Too Close The Sun to follow.
Trap For Fools becomes the second Group 1 winner, after King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prince of Wales's Stakes hero Poet's Word for Darley Stud's former shuttler Poet's Voice (GB).
The 11yo son of Dubawi died in March after suffering a heart attack at Dalham Hall Stud.
