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Blue Diamond Stakes: Lucky ride continues for Fontiton’s part owner Vasko Ognenovski

24th Feb 2015

Herald Sun - Rod Nicholson - Tuesday, 24 February 2015

The extraordinary run of luck just keeps rolling along for Vasko Ognenovski.

The 55-year-old former driver spent $1.30 to buy the Herald Sun last year and put in one entry in the Herald Sun/Inglis Win A Share In A Racehorse competiton.

His named was plucked from more than 29,500 entries, and he won a 10 per cent share in a filly with all training fees and insurance paid for two years.

That was only the beginning. Trainer Robert Smerdon chose the daughter of Turffontein from 775 lots at the Inglis Premier sale and she turned out to be Fontiton.

The flying filly has won her first three starts and is the $2.55 favourite for Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

If she wins, she will take her prizemoney to $1 million, of which Ognenovski is entitled to $100,000.

He did his part yesterday when he chose the crucial barrier for the 1200m dash and, with luck still his best friend, he unearthed the coveted No 1 slot.

“It is all just a dream come true,” he said. “Fancy winning the competition, then getting a star who within 12 months could provide me with so much fun, not to mention the money! And with so much more to come.

“I am still pinching myself. People dream about this sort of thing, and I’m living the dream.

“This competition wins has changed my life in so many ways. I just hope the luck continues on Saturday in the Diamond and maybe on to Sydney for the Golden Slipper. I hope it never ends,” he said.

He said he will enter again this year, and thanks to the windfall from Fontiton, he’ll buy at the Inglis sale which begins at Oaklands on Sunday.

Today Wednesday is the last chance to enter this year’s competition, with the official close at 11.59pm. (Victorian residents only)

GROUP 1 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES (1200m)

1/ STOKER (6) Tony McEvoy Damien Oliver 56.5kg

2 /Of THE BRAVE (9) TBC Stephen Baster 56.5kg

3/ PROMPT RETURN (7) Danny O’Brien James Winks 56.5kg

4/ MANHATTAN BLUES (14) Tony McEvoy Nick Hall 56.5kg

5/ SAMPEAH (12) John O’Shea Chad Scofield 56.5kg

6/ BANTAM (3) John O’Shea Jamie Mott 56.5kg

7/ PRIDE OF DUBAI (5) Peter & Paul Snowden Damian Browne 56.5kg

8/ FONTITON (1) Robert Smerdon Mark Zahra 54.5kg

9/ THURLOW (8) Robert Smerdon Craig Williams 54.5kg

10/ FLAMBOYANT LASS (15) Gai Waterhouse Glen Boss 54.5kg

11/ MISS GIDGET (10) Colin & Cindy Alderson Ben Melham 54.5kg

12/ CLAUDIA JEAN (2) Hayes and Dabernig Michael Walker 54.5kg

13/LAKE GENEVA (11) Team Hawkes Dwayne Dunn 54.5kg

14/ AIR APPARENT (4) Hayes and Dabernig Damian Lane 54.5kg

15/ REEMAH (13) Hayes and Dabernig Chris Symons 54.5kg

(Photo copyright of Sportpix)