[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Epaulette three-year-old Budgerigar justified his short-price favouritism at Albany on Saturday when scoring a soft win in the Old Jockeys Reunion Handicap (1240m).
Heading the market at a white-hot $1.50 quote second up from a spell, the gelding settled one-out and two-back for jockey Natasha Faithfull before peeling out and commencing his run approaching the turn.
He raced past the leading brigade at the 200m mark before pulling away late to beat Star In Time ($21) by one-and-a-half lengths, with Mon Mon ($9) a further half-length away in third place.
Budgerigar put the writing on the wall for his winning performance when finishing one-length third to Spirit Man and Divine Inanna first-up at Belmont on January 18.
He’s now had four career starts for a win, a third and two fourth placings and appears to have more wins in store.
CLICK HERE to view the results and replay of Budgerigar’s Albany win.