ALL THE ACTION FROM IPSWICH

A review of the meeting held at Ipswich on September 2.

Race 1:

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Come Said The Boy had it all his own way in the opening event, striding away to a clear cut victory.

It was the three-year-old’s sixth start and came on the back of some useful Saturday, city form where Come Said The Boy had put in creditable efforts behind the likes of Meet George and Jazz Heart.

“He was entered at Doomben and he probably would have run a good race there ... maybe finished fourth or fifth. But I wanted to get this win behind him, so we came here instead,” explained trainer Paul Nolen (Jnr).

“He’s a big strong horse,” continued Nolen. “You look at the size of him and it’s hard to believe he was still a two-year-old only weeks ago. But although he is big and strong, he is still immature.

“I like the El Moxie breed. I’ve had some success with them.

“I have had some trouble with their legs though, but ability-wise at least you know you have something to work with.

“I guess any trainer would rather have something with ability with bad legs to look after, than have a horse with good legs and no ability.”

Jockey Tony Pattillo added his assessment.

“He just had too much on them (the opposition),” said Pattillo.

“He didn’t beat a great class of runner but, having said that all you can do is win and this run should have done him the world of good.

“He should develop into a nice horse later.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
S. Essery trainer of Reenact Danza which was uncompetitive was advised that the gelding must trial to the satisfaction of stewards prior to the horse racing again. A post race veterinary examination of Reenact Danza failed to reveal any abnormality


Race 2:

Slinky Chelle turned around her form to claim the first success of her career in her seventh start.
The mare was particularly disappointing last time over the same track and distance but she showed a new lease of life here, even easily taking out of play the disadvantage of racing from the extreme outside draw.

Trainer Desleigh Forster knew exactly which factor made the difference.

“She jumped away today,” said Forster. “She hasn’t been jumping well at all.

“We were always going to ride her aggressively. The key was the start and getting her across from the barrier.”

Although Slinky Chelle wasn’t stopping at the line, Forster has no immediate plans to step her up in distance.

“No, for the moment we are going to stick to the 1350m trip and she how she develops,” said Forster.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Crackinghorseluck (S. Scriven) jumped out at the start taking Back A Winner (S. Drake) out onto Astrolight ( T. Pannell). Near the 350m Purple Sequal was held up for clear running when awkwardly placed near the heels of Spanish Sister (App B. Evans).


Race 3:

The Des Wozencroft trained See Me Thru arrived with a late flourish under the strong urgings of jockey Sheree Drake to land his first career success in the third run of this preparation.

The six-year-old has only six runs behind his name.

Wozencroft explains why the gelding is so lightly raced.

“Firstly, he was only broken in as a four-year-old,” explained Wozencroft. “Then EI.

“I don’t know if you remember when they called off a meeting at Ipswich about twenty minutes before the first race because of an EI scare, but I was walking down that path into the mounting yard with this horse when they called it off.

“I had to turn around and walk away again while his, and every other horse's career was put on hold.

“He had a few other minor problems. We just had to patient.

“He’s been a different horse this preparation,” continued Wozencroft. “He’s got a better action. He ran third first-up and then went to the Gold Coast.

“You can forget that run. He had a wide barrier and then was pushed even wider on the turn. Now there’s this win.

“It’s nice when things are moving forward. Normally they go the other way.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
A pre-race veterinary examination of Elite General, which has not raced for a lengthy period of time, passed the gelding fit to start. The start was delayed when Count De Loir was reluctant to proceed to the barriers. The start was further delayed when R. Goltz the rider of Rosebrn required medical attention after his leg made contact with the partition of the barrier stalls when the horse was being loaded. A short distance after the start Count De Loir commenced to buck dislodging its rider App J. Wood. Trainer B. Smith was advised the horse must trial to the satisfaction of stewards on 2 occasions before its next start. Apogee (R. McMahon) jumped in at the start making heaving contact with American Gangster (App S. Holcombe) which then shifted in and had to be restrained off the heels of Rosebrn (R. Goltz). Rosebrn had to be steadied at the start when tightened for room between Elite General (App L. Dittman) which shifted in and Cubby House (W. Clasohm) which was taken out by Palace Party (M. Paget). Leaving the 800m the riderless Count De Loir shifted wider on the track resulting in Mr Daybreak (K. Wharton), Bay Minstrel (M. Heagney) and Cubby House all having to be checked. Tentulari Kakisaya which was following was hampered as a consequence. American Gangster was held up and unable to improve rounding the home turn and was again unable to establish clear running over the concluding stages of the event. See Me Thru (S. Drake) was inclined to lay out under pressure in the straight.
When questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of See Me Thru today as compared to its previous start at the Gold Coast on 23 August 2008 trainer D. Wozencroft explained that the horse had been trapped wide on the track from an outside barrier and upon straightening on that occasion was well back in the field. He stated that in his opinion the horse made up good ground in the straight considering the race was only 900m. Stewards noted his explanation.


Race 4:

Trainer Noel Doyle was very satisfied with the win of Periander, who made no mistake in the run home after being offered a rails hugging opportunity at the top of the straight.

Doyle’s satisfaction was entirely understandable, given the route that Periander’s career has followed on his way to finding a place in the winners’ enclosure.

“He was injured as a two-year-old,” said Doyle. “There’s a medical name for the injury, which I can’t think of now, but basically he displaced his hip.

“The experts advised that he be put down at the time, but we thought we knew what we were doing so we decided to give him all the time he needed to heal. He did get better and this is the result!

“We did geld him because of his attitude,” continued Doyle. “He was getting a bit aggressive.”

The good part of that aggressive nature remains though, because once Periander had gained the advantage, he stubbornly refused to relent, and fought on for a well-earned win.

“When the rail run opened up it did make it easier,” acknowledged Doyle, “but I think he would have won anyway.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hell Week (A. Spinks) and Fasciti (J. Bowditch) raced wide for the majority. Saltram Dream commenced to hang out leaving the 800m and did so until entering the home straight. W. Lawson trainer of Saltram Dream was advised that an official warning would now be placed against the filly's racing manners. Near the 100m Sam’s Crossing and Vistula Belle (K. Wharton) made contact. A post race veterinary examination of All Show (J. Byrne) which hung out throughout the event revealed the mare to have a cheek ulcer on the near side. Trainer S. Dwyer was advised that he must produce a veterinary certificate of fitness before All Show again races.


Race 5:

Brosnan’s Gold carried a host of gear chances going into this race. The blinkers were off again. The bits (Norton) were off again. The pacifiers were on for the first time. The tongue control bit was on again.

Somewhere in that mix there was a winning formula as Brosnan’s Gold shone on the day, proving to be too hot for his rivals to handle.

“He has always over-raced,” explained trainer Ross Coveney. “He led last time as well but just got run down.

“He settled much better this time.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ashma’s Gold which became fractious in the barrier stalls was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start. Refined Desert (W. Clasohm) shifted in at the start and bumped Rocket Sprocket (M. Heagney). Irresisteibelle (App L. Rolls) was slow to begin. Intrepid Journey (G. Baker) over-raced in the early stages. Saba San (J. Bowditch) raced wide in the early stages. Ashma’s Gold (App B. Evans) raced ungenerously when racing wide in the early stages. Near the 100m Shanamin (App C. Isdale) and Refined Desert made contact on several occasions.


Race 6:

The Wayne Lawson trained Queen Of Danes scored her second successive win under a competent ride by Josh Jones.

“How’s this for a true racing story,” offered Lawson.

“Would you believe that Queen Of Danes and Heavenly Glow once finished alongside each other in a two-year-old Maiden at Tamworth?

Neither horse won. Queen Of Danes led and got tired. They must have finished something like fourth and fifth, but they finished alongside each other.

“No here we are winning a Class 1, and Heavenly Glow is winning Group 1’s.

But, given that Queen Of Danes has had her share of problems, her return to the winners’ enclosure was still a fair prize.

“She was very sick after EI,” confirmed Lawson.

“I took her to Beaudesert for her first run this prep,” said Lawson. “I thought she would win there. She got beat.”

Queen Of Danes set that record straight with a win at Beaudesert when she next returned to the country track, and she has now backed up with this second successive victory, which suggests she is making fair progress.

“She’s got a fair strike-rate and she will go 1200m,” said Lawson. “So hopefully there is more to come.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
A post race veterinary examination of In Harmony revealed the filly to have sustained a laceration to the off-fore leg and to be exhibiting signs of a cough


Race 7:

“I’ve had some good horses. This one is the best I’ve had.”

Trainer Harry Richardson was giving his view on the prospects of Tetra after the four-year-old gelding had outgunned his opposition one more time to secure an impressive hat trick.

“I’ve only had him for three starts,””said Richardson. “The first time I saw him I told the owners this was going to a very good horse.

“He had a couple of barrier trials. He bolted in. Then he’s run in three races and won them all – and he’s still got to hit his straps.

“He’ll go straight to a city midweek meeting now,” continued Richardson. “I can’t see him losing there. Then it will be on to a city, Saturday meeting.”

Jockey Christian Reith gave a more clinical view of his winner.

“He’s going through the grades really nicely,” said Reith. “He’s been correctly stepped up slowly in distance.
“He travels good. He lets down good.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Running Bear (S. Scriven) was unable to obtain clear running over the concluding stages.


Race 8:

Whimpy turned in one of the top performances at the meeting, claiming back to back successes when landing his second win from only three starts.

Jockey Shane Scriven, who is as good a judge of racing talent as any, gave the grey gelding’s effort a big thumbs-up after the race.

“Glenn (trainer Glenn Clunes) said he had improved,” said Scriven.

“I just gave him one smack in the straight and he quickly put them (the opposition) to rest.

“I really liked his win at Coloundra. I really liked it,” repeated Scriven, emphasising the point.

“This was a big step up for him actually, but he did it just as well. He had something in hand. He’s going to win some nice races,” concluded Scriven.

Trainer Glenn Clunes was obviously happy with the rate of progress that Whimpy has been displaying.

“He did win a couple of barrier trials before his first win,” said Clunes. “Now he has posted the two wins.”

I suggested it looks like there could be better things to come.

“We live in hope,” was Clunes’ reply.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Amerrybridge (App C. Isdale) was inclined to hang in during the early stages of the straight and had to be steadied off the heels of Whimpy (S. Scriven). Amerrybridge, What Is This (N. Day) and Malesia (R. McMahon) all raced wide for the majority.When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Easy Silence App J. Jones stated that the mare travelled well to a point near the home turn at which stage he placed the mare under pressure. He explained that in doing so Easy Silence failed to respond to his riding and compounded shortly after. App J. Jones further stated that in his opinion the mare was very disappointing. Trainer of Easy Silence S. Lee reported that he was disappointed with the mare's performance and advised that the mare had worked very well leading up to today's event and could only offer that the mare had finished second up at its first preparation as an excuse for today's performance. His explanation was noted. Trainer S. Lee undertook to advise stewards of anything that may come to light in the days following that may explain the mare's performance today. A post race veterinary examination of Easy Silence failed to reveal any abnormality.


Race 9:

The Rob Heathcote trained Madame Chanel rounded off the day with an emphatic win.

The victory went some way towards easing the pain of the defeat she suffered last time out, over the same track and distance, when she was just touched off in the final stride.

The barrier draw appeared to be a difficulty here.

“It was either go back from the draw , or go forward,” explained Heathcote. “There was none of this ‘let’s see what happens business’. We decided to go back.”

That decision paid dividends as Madame Chanel responded to the quiet ride of Brent Evans and put her best hoof forward when it mattered most, finishing strongly enough to secure the third win of her career.

“You know what some of these mares are like when they find their form. They hold their form,” said Heathcote.

“That’s what she is doing.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Madame Chanel (App B. Evans) threw its head in the air when being restrained shortly after the start. Snow Dane (S. Galloway) laid in under pressure in the straight.