Most punters missed the boat when the Quinton Scott-trained mare Tauri won a 1400-metre benchmark 62 at Warrnambool last week, but at least one was astute enough to snap up the generous odds on offer — the trainer’s wife, Barb.
With Tom Madden aboard, Tauri came from well back to beat $8 chance Asal by the narrowest of margins.
The six-year-old’s win was the last leg of the quaddie that paid $341,959.
Bookmakers bet up to $151 about Tauri, who started at $101.
“I was surprised they were betting 100-1,” Crossley-based Quinton Scott said. “Barb had something on at the big odds. 
“Her form wasn’t too bad. Her last run was probably her worst and I’m not sure what happened then but if you forget that run she wasn’t a 100-1 chance.”
Scott revealed Tauri may soon be sold, as one of her owners is battling health issues.
“We’ll give her another run while the owners sort out her future,” he said.
The veteran trainer, who has two horses in work, is looking to move back to his boyhood home town, Benalla, in the New Year.
“We’re getting a new house built and there’s still a few things to tidy up,” he said. 
“It’ll be a sad day when we make the move but Barb and I are getting older and we’ve got family and friends up at Benalla.”
Scott has a long history with racing in Warrnambool. He trained Rocky Affair to win the 1984 Grand Annual Steeplechase. 
Hat-trick bid in balance
Dual Jericho Cup winner Farag must run first or second in a qualifying race at Geelong next Friday to gain a start in this year’s $300,000 final at Warrnambool on Sunday, November 29.
Farag ran in the $250,000 Heritage Cup at Flemington on Tuesday as a lead-in to the Geelong race.
Trainer Aaron Purcell explained that Farag’s rating had been too high for him to run in earlier qualifying races.
Tuesday’s Echuca highweight qualifier, for example, was a benchmark 70. Farag is rated 83.
“It’s disappointing he might not get a run this year, after winning the last two,” Purcell said. “The strange thing is the consolation winner automatically gets a start in the (next year’s) final but the reigning winner has to go through the process again. 
“If we don’t run first or second in the Geelong race he’ll probably go to the paddock.”
From 47 starts Farag has won 10 races and $616,058 in prizemoney.
1400 brave rainy ’Lake
Wild weather last Saturday morning impacted crowd numbers for the annual Mortlake Cup race meeting. 
Mortlake Racing Club manager Karen Van Kempen said just over 1400 were in attendance for the seven-race program.
“The rain stopped the walk-ups,” she said. “It’s always difficult when there’s rain in the hours leading up. It started about 5am and went to about 11am. It just turns people away. “We were still happy but we would have loved an extra hundred or so. 
“The people who attended had a good day and the club is grateful for the support it receives from the local community.”
Aftermath, ridden by Linda Meech and trained by Paul Preusker, won the Mortlake Cup. Dean Yendall took the riding honours with a double, winning on Ramelle and Julep.