Veteran sprinter Dothraki scored an overdue win when he was awarded the Group 3 $150,000 Schweppes Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) on protest at Rosehill today.
Jockey Tye Angland was quick to fire in an objection after Dothraki, who was second across the line, a nose behind Sprightly Lass who moved out and bumped him at the 50m mark.
Sprightly Lass ($2.80 favourite) with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle set a sizzling pace out in front but was feeling the pinch over the final stages and moved out noticeably in the straight, bumping into Dothraki ($14).
Third placed New Universe ($13) was attacking the line strongly up the inside of the first two placegetters and was only another nose away.
Sprightly Lass was electric out of the barriers and even though she was denied a win in the stewards room, Avdulla was full of praise for the speedy mare.
“She is quick,” Avdulla said.
“Her 955m form and her 1000m form she hits the ground running. You have to sit and let her come back to you but she still raced a bit fresh.”
“She was wanting late, but she got the bob.”
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Dothraki, who had to carry the top weight of 59kg, scored his first win since taking out the 2015 Listed $150,000 City Tattersalls Club Lightning (1100m) at Randwick.