ALL THE ACTION FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST

A review of the meeting at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday

RACE 1:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
As he had done at Doomben on Saturday, trainer Bryan Guy sent out the first winner on the card, this time in the form of the New Zealand bred colt Timecall, who was winning for the first time at only his second start.

“He did a lot of things wrong first time,” explained Guy. “This time it also was not a perfect performance, but he showed that he has made progress in the three weeks in-between runs and he does seem to have clicked what to do.

“He’s started at 1400m. He’s a very nice horse and I think he’ll go 2000m."

Timecall did get back early in the running after an ordinary start. Was it the plan to run from off the speed?

Jockey Ric McMahon explains.

“No there was no plan to get back,” answered McMahon. “He didn’t jump that well so I just took it from there.

"Bryan (Guy) is very good that way. He doesn’t put pressure on you to be in a certain place. All he asks is for you to position the horse where it is comfortable and that’s what I did with Timecall."

Unlike some punters, McMahon was never concerned about the outcome of the race.

“He was always going to win wherever he was in the running,” stated McMahon. “He was just too good for them.””

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 450m, Timecall (R. McMahon) shifted out to improve and in doing so inconvenienced Teddy Pom Pom (C. Small). Over the final 100m, Nkosi’s Haven M. Hughes) shifted out abruptly under pressure, making contact with Hotact (K. Cunningham).


RACE 2:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Bryan Guy/Ric McMahon combination wasted little time in posting a double.

Their second winner was Romantic Venture who, like Timecall, won at the second time of asking after being stepped up from 1400m to 1600m.

“Really, he’s another nice horse. He should develop into a fair stayer,” said Guy.

The run was similar to that of Timecall in that McMahon again had to make his way through the field, beginning his run from a long way off the pace.

There was difference though. This time McMahon had to be a lot busier in the saddle to help secure the result.

“He was so green,” said McMahon shaking his head. “He was off the bit a long way out and he had no idea what he was supposed to do.

“I just roared at him in the straight.

"Once he started to stretch out he picked up ground very quickly and he did enough. He can only get better with that run and he should come on well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hotone (M. Dorrington) and Romantic Venture (R. McMahon) were slow to begin. G. Butler, rider of Tiger Terrific accidentally dropped his whip near the 500m. Near the 450m, Resurrected (E. Wilkinson) was inclined to lay in and had to be steadied. National Soldier (K. Wharton) was held up for clear running from the 250m and went to the line without being fully tested. Val Osiris (O.Turpin) was held up from the 200m for clear running until near the 100m.


RACE 3:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Mick Mair trained Karalius won a protracted battle on the track with Moxie Million and then had to survive a protest before officially claiming the first victory of his career.

The result stood as past the post, leaving Mick Mair with a smile on his face and jockey Jana Piper with food for thought in her quest to improve her riding record.

“He was squeezed a bit at his last start,” offered Mair, referring to Karalius’s improved third placed finish in his previous start.

“He’s getting there slowly ... but he’s getting there.”

Mair gave a clue with his next comment as to how far he thought Karalius might progress.

“He’s a half-brother to Mount Gower, that good horse I used to have,” said Mair.

Point noted.

For Jana Piper, the advice that in future, she must straighten her mount sooner than she did on this occasion, was a slap on the wrist which served as a reminder of the fine line that jockey’s walk between success and suspension.

Unfortunately, later in the day, Piper was deemed to have crossed that line (see Stewards Report Extract – Race 6).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On return to scale, a protest was lodged by trainer Mr J. Hunter, trainer of the 2nd placegetter, Moxie Million, against Karalius (J. Piper) being declared the winner, alleging interference over the concluding stages. After taking evidence from the parties concerned and viewing the video, stewards found that near the 75m, Karalius shifted in and brushed Moxie Million, however bearing in mind the extent of the interference and where it occurred in relation to the winning post, stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that the incident had any material affect on the finishing positions of the relevant horses and therefore the protest was dismissed and the Judge's placings confirmed. At a subsequent inquiry, J. Piper, rider of Karalius, was advised that in similar circumstances she must stop riding and straighten her mount sooner than she did on this occasion. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Galactic Spirit, R. McMahon stated that the filly travelled well throughout. However when placed under pressure from the 300m she failed to respond to his riding and, in his opinion, was disappointing in its failure to run on.


RACE 4:

WINNER FEEDBACK:

Krisalo came good under a very positive ride by the often underrated Kelvin Wharton to score in comfortable fashion in her second run following a six month spell.

“She was smacked around a bit in the running first-up,” said trainer Trevor Thomas. “That didn’t help her at all then, although, having said that, she probably isn’t a first-up horse.

“When she does put it in, she is very solid and I’m very happy with this performance.
“She’s going to go on to more than a Class 1 win at Coloundra, I’m sure.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Okomoto Tamasakura (S. Holcombe) was slow to begin and lost considerable ground. Connections were advised that an official warning would be placed on the gelding. Recalled (L. Dittman) was inclined to overrace in the early stages and near the 550m shifted in slightly, resulting in Observe (M. Hughes), which was following, having to be steadied and alter course. Rounding the home turn, Observe (M. Hughes) was inclined to lay out and had to be steadied away from the heels of Lionleigh Lass (O. Turpin). S. Holcombe, rider of Okomoto Tamasakura, accidentally dropped his whip near the 200m. Passing the 200m, Krisalo (K. Wharton) shifted out to improve around the heels of Monte Kwalo (J. Piper) and in doing so inconvenienced Recalled (L. Dittman). Lionleigh Lass (O. Turpin) raced wide throughout. J. Piper, rider of the 4th placegetter, Monte Kwalo, was fined $100 for failing to weigh in when required to do so.


RACE 5:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
You have to go a long way to find a more honest competitor than the Peter Fleming trained Craiglea Warrior.

The eight-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency in recent times and again repaid his followers with a solid performance to land the seventeenth win of his career.

“He had some problems and had time out as a youngster,” explained Fleming. “He’s a strong horse and is clear-winded. He just loves racing.

“He came back in after EI,” continued Fleming. “I think his only bad run since January was when we tried him over 2000m. He does have a staying line on his dam’s side but he certainly is enjoying these sprints.

Full marks must also go to apprentice jockey Cameron Dixon who has partnered Craiglea Warrior in three of his last four wins.

The win helped keep the momentum going for the young rider who landed a double at Ipswich on Thursday.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Grecolo, R. McMahon stated that the gelding travelled well in running. However when placed under pressure in the home straight, Grecolo failed to respond to his riding and, in his opinion, was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination of failed to reveal any significant abnormalities


RACE 6:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall was out the back of the grandstand pumping his fist in the air in a victory salute after Dive At Five had got the better of the short-priced favourite La Marianne.

“It’s his first start for me,” explained Hall who was clearly thrilled at the result he had obtained for high profile owner Nick Moratis.

“He was given to me after his last start. I took him home. I studied his form. I put a lot of work into him ... I improved his blood ... I put him back over a mile ... and there’s the result,” said Hall, who was really rapt with the win.

“I’ve had three winners from four starters for the owner,” said Hall, confirming the current strike-rate for an owner/trainer combination which could well go on to better things.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT: Apprentice J. Piper, rider of La Marannne, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 1200m she permitted her mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Great Honour (R. McMahon), forcing that runner in on to Condomine Lad (L. Dittman), which in turn was taken in on to Dive At Five (P. Hammersley), resulting in Dive At Five having to be steadied. A short distance later, J. Piper allowed her mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Great Honour, forcing that gelding in on to Condomine Lad, which was in turn forced in onto Frisco’s In Charge, causing Frisco’s In Charge to be checked. J. Piper was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 9 meetings, to commence at midnight, 29 August, and to expire at midnight, 13 September. Near the 200m, Sacred Heart (E. Wilkinson) shifted in across the heels of La Marianne (J. Piper) to obtain clear running and in doing so hampered Condomine Lad (L. Dittman). E. Wilkinson, rider of Sacred Heart, was reprimanded and advised to ensure he is sufficiently clear when crossing in future.


RACE 7:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
“All I can tell you is she is a .... of a racehorse. A real shocker,” said Bryan Guy, before any question could be asked.
Guy was referring to Mona Star, the five-year-old mare who had just given the Guy yard and stable jockey Ric McMahon a winning treble on the day when touching off rival Base Dancer by the narrowest of margins.
It appears that some horses learn and some horses try to teach the trainer. Clearly Mona Star falls into the unfavoured, latter category.
“She always wants to bolt. She always wants to do her own thing,” continued Guy.
“She’s always been the same. She has never got better,” agreed Daniel Guy, nodding knowingly.
Well maybe, just maybe, all of the effort put in by the stable is starting to be worth it as Mona Star, while still boasting an otherwise attitude off the track, is starting to put it together where it counts having won two of her three starts this year – albeit by small nerve-tingling margins.
I guess that’s the way she wants to do it!

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
T. Pannell, rider of the 5th placegetter, Norhave, was fined $100 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over his declared riding weight.


RACE 8:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Robert Bradshaw trained Asituation, apparently unwanted by some jockeys who declined the ride after Matthew Paget was stood down, did what any self-respecting runner would do in those circumstances – he came out and won.
Asituation had previously recorded results that suggested he was short on fire-power in the finish, having saluted only once before in thirty-eight starts. He had, however, shown to good advantage in his previous run at the Gold Coast, and Todd Pannell helped him build on that result with a resolute ride as the duo combined to see off the challenge of the favourite Ice Delight by a little under a length.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ice Delight raced wide during the middle stages. Near the 450m, Stately Command (R. McMahon) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Vettori’s Image (K. Wharton) and Gracemere (M. Heagney), which was taken out by Romsey (C. Small), which shifted out away from Gemini George (L. Dittman). Stately Command (R. McMahon) was momentarily held up for clear running on entering the straight. Gracemere (M. Heagney) raced wide throughout.