Punters who took the $1.60 about the Symon Wilde-trained Manapouri at Warracknabeal last Saturday might not have been happy about it, but Warrnambool hoop Melissa Julius was delighted to roll the odds-on pop with $101 chance Over The Edge.
Julius, 33, steered the Darryl Dodson-trained four-year-old to a shock two-length win over over Manapouri in the $32,000 Warrack Butchery Maiden Plate (1205m).
The talented horsewoman said it was a thrill to ride a 100/1 winner.
“It’s the first time I’ve kicked home a 100-1 shot,” Julius said. “I’ve ridden a few longshot winners but that’s my first at triple figures. It’s a nice feeling.”
Over The Edge was having his third start and Julius said she wasn’t as surprised by the victory as the market had been.
“I rode him at his first run at Mount Gambier when he ran sixth and I thought it wasn’t too bad a run,” she said. 
“He then went to Hamilton for his next start and he made up a bit of ground. Darryl decided to put the blinkers on him for Saturday’s run and that really helped him. 
“He’s an improving type of horse and should win more races.”
Julius and Dodson weren’t finished tormenting the punters either, teaming up to win the following race with $51 shot Toes In First.
Again the principal victim was a warm favourite — this time the Ciaron Maher-trained Zoucat ($2.80) — but the margin was a whisker.
“He was having his first run for Darryl after coming from another trainer,” Julius said. 
“I hadn’t ridden him before but I was impressed. He’s a nice, big horse that should get out over more ground in the future.”
Both Over The Edge and Toes In First were emergencies for their respective races.
The running double for Over The Edge and Toes In First paid light at $336.50 on SuoerTAB, indicating that some stable followers must have been on board. The all-up would theoretically have paid $3931.76.
Early in her career Julius struggled with her weight but she appears to have overcome those issues.
“I used to have weight issues,” she said. “I’ve worked really hard to control them. I can ride at 55 kilograms consistently now and with a bit of notice I’ll get down to 54. It’s all about diet and keeping busy.”
Julius has ridden 210 winners, stretching back to Real Finniss at Terang on February 4, 2016.
Two more for Symon
Symon Wilde’s hot run in jumping races continued at Ballarat last Sunday with two winners on the six-race program. 
The Warrnambool-based trainer won with Hit The Road Jack ($3.20) in the $50,000 Gotta Take Care Hurdle and Enchanted Elle ($6.50) in the $100,000 J.J. Houlahan Hurdle. Both horses were backing up from wins at Coleraine the previous Sunday.
“I was quietly confident on the back of their efforts at Coleraine,” Wilde said. “Both horses have been in good form. 
“We’ve got a few nice jumpers in the stable and we’re looking forward to the 2026 jumps season full of confidence.”
 Bazini, Wilde’s runner in Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase, failed to finish the course.
Wilde’s team won 12 jumps races in the 2025 season.
Hart out with a bang
Warrnambool-based Irishman Jordan Hart capped off a big first season in the sport by winning the $35,000 Henry Dwyer Racing Steeplechase (3600m) at Ballarat last Sunday on Mustang Harry ($26). 
Hart rode seven winners from 60 rides in 2025 but finished the jumps season with a bang, riding three winners from his last 10 rides including Highland Blaze in the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown.
Mustang Harry is one of a handful of horses trainer Kaye Edwards has in work at Casterton. The 10-year-old has won three of his 48 starts and picked up $124,376.
Quiet but passionate
Racing has lost one of its passionate fans with the passing of Jock McArthur.
McArthur, who held a trainer’s licence for more than 60 years, passed away at his historic property Meningoort, near Bookaar in the Camperdown district, last Friday. 
Terang’s Kieran O’Brien worked for McArthur for more than 15 years.
“Jock was an unassuming sort of person,” O’Brien said. “He went about things in a quiet manner. 
“He loved the horses and going to the races and he enjoyed nothing more than a good social day out with family and friends.”