ALL THE ACTION FROM DOOMBEN

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Saturday, August 30.

Race 1:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Felixtrinidad gained an overdue reward for his high level of consistency when jockey Shane Scriven produced the gelding with a finely timed challenge to scupper the claims of his rivals.

Felixtrinidad was not the easiest of rides in the early stages (see Stewards Report Extract) but Scriven’s experience allowed him to settle his mount at the rear of the field while staying within striking distance.

Second last into the straight as Gunsari and Kutalo vied for the lead, Felixtrinidad produced a strong, sustained run which carried him past all of his opposition and he still had enough left in the tank to see off the belated charge of Black Morgan to score a well-deserved victory.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Felixtrinidad (S. Scriven) was slow to begin. Felixtrinidad was inclined to over-race in the early stages. Little Stranger (S. Seamer) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 2:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Maryann Thexton was pleased with the way Chilled got to the line in a pressuried finish to land his second win from only six starts.

"He's a real smart, young colt," said Thexton, "but he is a colt and, as you know, with colts it sometimes takes a little time before the penny drops and they learn what they are supposed to do.

"Bobby (El-Issa) wanted me to let him chase to the front but I refused to let him do that," continued Thexton.

"Part of my job as a trainer is educating the horse and getting him to learn to relax in races.

"Bobby came back and said if he'd ridden him the way he wanted to ride him, Chilled would have won a lot easier.

"I can agree with that on the day, but the education is more important in terms of future success.

"So I was very pleased with Chilled's workmanlike performance. We still got the result and hopefully he has learnt something from the experience."

Chilled obviously has superior breeding on his side, being by Redoute's Choice out of a Encosta de Lago mare.

"This was step up in distance and I have no doubt he will go a mile. He is looking for more ground where he can still set good sectionals but be able to race well within himself."

For the record, Chilled tracked Meet George, who enjoyed an easy lead in the early part, before taking up the challenge in the straight.

Meet George was up for the fight though, and these two runners battled in out for much of the run home as Jazz Heart also loomed up, momentarily threatening to take both of them out of the equation.

Chilled eventually wore down Meet George and did enough to see off the persistent challenge of Jazz Heart, as well as that of the faster finishing Woorim, who had raced erratically throughout before suddenly finding the right gear which saw him arrive with a late charge.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Woorim (S. Scriven) ran wide rounding the home turn. A post-race veterinary examination of Woorim failed to reveal any abnormalities. Trainer R. Heathcote advised stewards that Woorim would be sent for a spell.


Race 3:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Russeting continues to steadily build her reputation and this win was her sixth in only thirteen starts. She also has three minor places to her credit.

Jockey Adrian Coombe tracked the favourite Le Sillage until the home turn. Russeting was lying fourth when Coombe switched him out into the clear at the head of the straight.

From there he made steady progress to gain the advantage and score a clearcut victory.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Russeting (A. Coome) raced wide in the early stages. Michelle Cafea (A. Spinks) raced wide for the majority of the event. A post-race veterinary examination of Aquareine, which finished a distant last, failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 4:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jim Byrne returned fresh from a voluntary short break from riding and the top hoop wasted little time in getting onto the scoreboard.

He also had a busy day with the stewards (see Stewards Report Extract – Races 6, 7 and 8).

His winner came in the form of the Falvelon gelding, Fangles, who guts out a hard earned victory for trainer Stephen Jones.

“I had a nice run throughout the race,” said Byrne. “When I peeled out I thought I would accelerate away but that didn’t happen. He did quicken nicely though but it became a real fight.

“The horse on his outside (Elegant Roi) did head him in fact, but to his credit he kicked back. It was a good solid win.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
General Albert (B. Pengelly) was examined behind the barriers and passed fit to start. Mr Braveheart (A. Spinks) and Fangles (J. Byrne) came together on jumping away. Emgee Em Grand (A. Coome) and Snagapot (K. Wharton) raced wide for the majority of the event. Near the 200m General Albert shifted in and bumped Al Fawzi (R. McMahon).


Race 5:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Sir Coup got one back after being narrowly touched off by Tariki last time.

“She was just too good,” said jockey Paul Hammersley. “She travelled beautifully early and finished strongly. I think she’ll be even better over 2400m.”

Trainer Bevan Laming is considering the Lismore Cup as a possible next start for the seven-year-old.

“She had every chance last time and only got run down in the last stride (by Tariki),” said Laming. “She did better this time and is still improving.

“I’ll have a think about it now, but the Lismore Cup is the one I might target,”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start My Limit (A. Coome) was buffeted between Take The Plea (L. Dillon) and Lord Rupert (K. Wharton). Tariki (S. Galloway), which jumped away awkwardly, was tightened on jumping away between October Sky (A. Spinks) and Kintyre Conquest (B. El-Issa) which shifted out. October Sky overraced in the early and middle stages. Sansaba raced wide for the majority of the event. My Limit had difficulty obtaining clear running for the majority of the straight.


Race 6:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Wayne Nugent was suitably impressed with the performance of his charge, Friendly Embrace after the gelding had warded off all challengers to land the tenth win of his career.

“He’s won three this preparation now,” said Nugent. “He just tries his guts out. He had a tendon problem as a three-year-old which set him back a bit, but he’s developed into a really nice horse now,” said Nugent.

“He thinks he is a champion,” said jockey Scott Seamer, referring to Friendly Embrace.

“He doesn’t know how to run a bad race. He just saw the gap, went to it and kept going.”

Nugent only has two horses in work.

“I’m a farrier by trade. This (training) is a bit of a sideline,” explained Nugent.

“The other horse (Monaleah) is going around at Gatton about … now,” said Nugent. (Monaleah finished second at Gatton).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Bold Reason (P. Hammersley) and Tellasecret (B. El-Issa) raced wide throughout. Rounding the home turn Forestreno (A. Pattillo) was held up and unable to improve.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Master Denis, jockey J. Byrne stated that in the early stages the horse was obliged to race in restricted room to the inside of Bold Reason, however failed to respond to his riding from the 500m. Trainer A. Bailey's foreperson Ms S. Thompson could offer no explanation and undertook to advise stewards of anything that comes to light in days subsequent to the event that may explain the performance. A post-race veterinary examination of Master Denis failed to reveal any abnormalities. A post-race veterinary examination of Spur Me On (M. Radecker) failed to reveal any abnormalities.



Race 7:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Squair and jockey Shane Scriven combined to bring Striking Victory home to an impressive win.

Striking Victory was having his first run for the Squair yard, who took over the care of the nine-year-old from Gerald Ryan after the gelding had disappointed when finishing down the field in the Coffs Cup.

Striking Victory had started joint favourite on that occasion, having won his previous start at Kembla Grange so there was some form to work with when he entered the Squair stable some three-and-a-half to four weeks ago.

“The owner Greg Brodie wanted to bring the horse up this way and he rang me and asked if I would take him,” explained Squair.

“I was a bit behind the eight ball today in terms of knowing what he can do, but we decided to ride him back and see what we could do from there.”

Scriven takes up the story.

“I was confident a long way out,” said Scriven. “He got into a rhythm where he was happy. I made the move. Scotty (Seamer on Secrets Untold) chased me. I got into him and he just dug in and dug in … and he just kept picking up.

“He’s not finished yet. If he can pick up a couple of more races like this, it would be good,” concluded Scriven.

Striking Victory was Scriven’s second winner of the meeting. He was the only rider on the card to have more than one success on the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Following his riding engagement in Race 6, B. El-Issa was stood down by the Club's doctor. B. El-Issa was advised that he must obtain a medical clearance prior to resuming race riding. Polar Bear (A. Coome) was slow to begin. Polar Bear raced wide for the majority of the event.
When questioned regarding her riding of Grey Stream, especially in the middle stages, apprentice M. Radecker stated that her instructions were to race forward near the speed, however endeavour not to fight the mare as she has a tendency to resent being restrained. Apprentice Radecker stated that in the middle stages she endeavoured to settle Grey Stream behind the leader Umaprince (T. Chambers), however the horse had a tendency to resent being restrained and she elected to allow the horse to stride forward outside Umaprince passing the 800m. Her explanation was noted.
Jockey S. Scriven was fined $200 under AR. 137(c) for making a celebratory gesture on Striking Victoryprior to the winning post.
Stewards questioned jockey J. Byrne regarding his riding of Prosecution over the concluding stages, in particular in the straight. J. Byrne stated that initially after electing to take a run to the inside of Grey Stream (M. Radecker) he believed that that run would eventually close and therefore elected to alter course to the outside of Grey Stream. Stewards were of the opinion that although J. Byrne's actions did not cost his mount a placing in the race they nevertheless advised him that they believed he made an error of judgment by failing to pursue the uninterrupted run to the inside of Grey Stream.


Race 8:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
If taken purely as a spectacle, Deacon undoubtedly turned in the performance of the day.

The David Murphy trained five-year-old was slow away, was well back early and still in some apparent strife at the head of the straight. But that’s when the illusion of it being a contest evaporated.

Once jockey Brad Pengelly asked for an effort, it was race over as Deacon’s response was to call on a burst of power which saw him accelerate to the head of affairs in a most impressive manner to win, untroubled, going away from his opposition by a widening 4,50 length margin.

“He still doesn’t want to jump,” said Pengelly. But that was the only question mark in his report.

“He’s a classic example of the Zabeel type,” said Pengelly. “He needs time to get over some of his tendencies. Just like he needed the step up to a mile today. He is just going to get better and better.

“I really like riding for Dave’s stable,” continued Pengelly. “He’s a terrific trainer and his horses always give you a good feeling.”

Murphy himself was more than happy with the result.

“He’s still learning,” said Murphy. “He’s still doing things wrong and when that happens you just take your medicine and go back and work on those points that need to be improved."

"That’s always easier to do when you know you have got something to work with.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Deacon (B. Pengelly), which jumped away a little awkwardly, shifted in and made contact with the hind quarters of Bannock Bay (A. Pattillo). Semi Wells (S. Seamer) raced wide for the majority of the event. Shortly after straightening Deacon shifted out and bumped Daffy which in turn shifted out and bumped Beautiful Eyes (D. Missen). Near the 200m Ram Jam Inn (M. Hughes), which had improved to the inside of Overanxious (J. Byrne) where there was doubtful room, was momentarily impeded by Overanxious which shifted back in slightly.
When questioned regarding the performance of Overanxious, jockey J. Byrne stated that his instructions were to try and lead on the horse but to have the horse settle as it has had a tendency to over-race. He added that after urging the horse forward in the early stages it then over-raced and pulled hard for the majority of the event. Trainer J. Morrisey's representative Mr Perry confirmed the instructions and added that the horse was having its first start over today's distance and had had a tendency previously to over-race. Their explanations were noted.