Punters were left reeling when Sparkling Victory belied his cricket score odds to win the staying three-year-old event at Morphettville on Saturday.

A $101 pop with bookmakers, Sparkling Victory found plenty in a driving finish to edge out Black Storm by a half head in the 2014 metre event.

The win shocked punters – the majority of which were out of the quaddie in the first leg – but connections weren’t as surprised.

Trainer Joe Lockyer, who prepares a small team just metres from the course, gave his charge a good chance – stepping up to 2000 metres for the first time this preparation.

At his previous preparation Sparkling Victory ran sixth in the listed Hill Smith Stakes over 1800 metres before running fourth at Morphettville over 2000 metres.

“If you looked at his last run it wasn’t that bad,” Lockyer’s partner and senior part owner Elaine Robertson said.

“He was up to 2000 metres and he was always looking for a longer trip,” she added.

“It was a great thrill to be able to win and hopefully he can go on and win a few more over the staying trips.”

Lockyer purchased Sparkling Victory from the draft of WA’s Cayley Thoroughbreds for $14,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

He’s already earned almost $30,000 and should only improve as he matures over the coming months and seasons.

Sparkling Victory is one of 173 individual winners produced by Zabeel’s former outstanding galloping son Reset.

Reset raced on just five occasions and was unbeaten when he was retired to Darley Stud.

He is already the sire of 14 stakes winners – headed by Magic Millions graduate and multiple Group One Derby winner Rebel Raider.

Sparkling Victory is the third winner, from four to race, for the unraced Umatilla mare Umakineara.

He is therefore a half brother to the Group Two placed, seven time winner Marnie d’Or.

Umakineara is from the eight time winning Manihi mare Tulkineara – a half sister to Sparkling Halo – the dam of South Australian based stakes winners Red Astaire and Debben.

PIC – Jenny Barnes.