Courtesy The Age website:

Just a week ago, Caulfield trainer Mick Price said he now felt comfortable mixing it with racing's big names, but Price yesterday admitted to being embarrassed and numb after his galloper Mr Trickster claimed the biggest scalp in Australasia by outgunning Northerly in the listed Victoria Gold Cup (2020m) at Caulfield.

While obviously delighted with the upset win, which followed his winning treble on Blue Diamond Stakes day last weekend, Price was stuck for words.

"What do you say? It was a funny race and a fluke result happened. I really don't know how it happened, but I'll take it," Price said.

A fluke it may have been but Price revealed that he and apprentice rider Craig Newitt had decided before the race that as Mr Trickster would carry nine kilograms less than Northerly yesterday, they would make the champion earn victory.

"Our plan was to get out and lead and make him win the race. I thought he would, but my bloke just stuck on and the unbelievable happened," Price said

"It's a bit embarrassing, to tell you the truth."
Mr Trickster ($9) sped away in the straight and then held Northerly ($1.30), who rallied late, by three-quarters of a length. Mornington Cup winner Gunnamatta ($8) was three lengths away third.

Northerly's trainer Fred Kersley said he felt that Northerly had faltered on the track as heavy rain fell before the race, making the surface slippery.

Jockey Patrick Payne said he knew as far out as 700 metres from home that the champion would struggle to win.

"He did slip a few times near the home turn but all credit to the winner," Payne said. "He made us carry our weight (60 kilograms) and we were never really travelling well enough to get to him.

"But he still ran pretty well. When he slipped, it took a bit of confidence out of him as he couldn't really dig into the track," Payne said.

"The last 200 metres was good, though and, I'd have to say, he is still well and truly on track for the Australian Cup."

In 2001, Northerly was beaten in the Victoria Gold Cup by an unknown called Greenstone Charm, but it is a fair bet that more will be heard of Mr Trickster.

The four-year-old gelding yesterday took his earnings to more than $200,000 at his 17th start yesterday.

Mr Trickster had a severe leg injury as a three-year-old when he was shaping as a most promising stayer but Price said he was ready yesterday to test the galloper fully.

Mr Trickster is now likely to go to the autumn carnivals in either Sydney or Brisbane, with Price eyeing a group race success.

An interested onlooker yesterday was trainer Tony McEvoy, whose best galloper, Fields Of Omagh, has chased Northerly unsuccessfully since last spring.

"It shows it can happen," McEvoy said of the upset.

"If only it would happen to us," he added.

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