ALL THE ACTION FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST

A review of the meeting held on the Cushion Track at the Sunshine Coast on Friday, September 19.

Race 1:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Plate - 1000m
1st - Dash's Princess; 2nd - Rhodamine; 3rd - Dodge County

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Darryl Caldwell trained Dash’s Princess started favourite here and duly arrived to shed her Maiden ticket at the third rime of asking.

Was Caldwell confident of victory going into the race?

“The bookies thought she would win. They are normally a good judge,” was Caldwell’s laconic reply.

Jockey Michael Palmer gave his view from the saddle.

“I actually wanted to be closer to the speed, but when the leader slipped away I took a bit of a sit,” said Palmer.

“I switched out to make sure she would get a clear run,” continued Palmer, “and she worked home well in the straight.

“Her other two runs were honest as well,” added Palmer, who has ridden Dash’s Princess in all three starts.

“Possibly the Cushion Track worked in her favour,” was Palmer’s final word on the subject.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Carrisa Plains (S. Cormack) commenced to hang out badly approaching the 600m, placing its rider at a severe disadvantage. Trainer A. Williamson was advised that Carrisa Plains must trial satisfactorily in an official trial prior to its next race start. Dodge County (J. Taylor) over-raced in the early stages and was inclined to hang out rounding the first turn. Dodge County was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the event. A post-race veterinary examination of Carrisa Plains revealed the filly to have been galloped on the off-hind pastern.


Race 2:

Maiden Div 1 - 1400m
1st - Awaroa; 2nd - Hamatym; 3rd - Shake The Lantern

WINNER FEEDBACK:
There was some relief that the win was on the board but trainer Alan Jones was still left shaking his head when he recalled Awaroa’s four race path to the winners’ enclosure.

“I’ve been very disappointed with him until now,” said Jones. “I thought he would win every time he raced before.

“He’s had this problem shifting ground,” continued Jones. “Last time when he raced over 1600m, he must have covered 1900m. Never mind hanging out in the home straight. He was pulling wide in the back straight already.”

The battle to overcome Awaroa’s problem was clearly detailed in the gear the gelding was fitted with on this occasion.

The blinkers were still on, but there were two additional gear changes. A cross-over noseband was on for the first time and lugging bits were on for the first time. Both items proved their value in the outcome.

“The gear changes played their part,” offered Jones. “The lugging bits – and the education we gave him with lugging bits – that made a difference. Then the cross over nose band helped keep him straight.”

Given the difficulties that he could have faced, it was a perfect ride from apprentice Michael Hughes, who was able to ease his mount short of the line, such was the clear-cut nature of his 3.30 length winning margin.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Eight Strands, which made contact with the gate when leaving the enclosure, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to race. Hamatym (G. Auckram) was slow to begin and lost considerable ground. Near the 1200m, Palais Royale (A. Pattillo) raced ungenerously and continually had to be steadied off the heels of Seybon (A. Spinks). Passing the 800m, Eight Strands (T. Chambers) raced up on to the heels of Shake The Lantern (S. Cormack) and had to be steadied and shifted out, hampering Hamatym. The Traps Are Set and Brumar (D. Gill) raced wide throughout.
When questioned as to Palais Royale settling further back in the field than anticipated, A. Pattillo stated he jumped away with the field, however near the 1200m, the mare began to race ungenerously and had to be continually steadied off the heels of Seybon (A. Spinks). He added that he then shifted to the outside of the heels of Seybon, however Seybon commenced to shift wider on the track and as a result he was obliged to ease. The explanation was noted.


Race 3:

Maiden Div 2 Handicap- 1400m
1st - Decisively; 2nd - Bloomin Thunder; 3rd - Mr Daybreak

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Grant Marshall trained Decisively charged clear in the final chase to the line to score under the competent handling of Bernadette Payne.

It was the gelding’s first win in eleven starts.

So what made the difference?

“He trains on the beach so we thought we’d bring him to the Sunshine Coast ‘beach’ and see how he goes,” answered Marshall.

“Actually we also came for two other reasons,” continued Marshall.

“Primarily we came for the other horse (Stravigent) in race six. Stravigent can’t handle the wet and it rains all of the time in the Northern Rivers.

“So we thought we would try him on the Cushion Track and see if that was a viable, alternative option for him when the tracks are heavy down there.” (Stravigent later finished unplaced, 4.30 lengths off the winner).

“The third reason we came was for Bernadette (Payne) to get a winner. She’s been out with an injury for about three months and she needed a confidence booster,” concluded Marshall.

So, allowing that the jury is still out on the Stravigent result, the Marshall team went home having successfully completed two out of the three tasks they set themselves which represents a good day’s work at any race-meeting.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ca Plane Pour Moi (S. Holcombe) over-raced during the early stages. Near the 1200m, Mr Daybreak (J. Taylor) raced ungenerously at the heels of Ca Plane Pour Moi and was steadied. Mr Daybreak over-raced during the early stages and approaching the 1000m was continually steadied off the heels of Trojan Joy. Near the 800m, Bloomin Thunder (L. Cheshire) had to be steadied away from the heels of Stor Hest (A. Spinks), which shifted in away from Shreps (J. Piper). At a subsequent inquiry, A. Spinks, rider of Stor Hest, was advised to exercise more care in future when shifting ground. Approaching the 300m, Mr Daybreak had to be steadied and shifted to the inside of Ca Plane Pour Moi, which shifted out. Inside the 100m, King County (P. Wolfgram) was crowded for room by Ca Plane Pour Moi, which shifted out under pressure. A post-race veterinary examination of Ca Plane Pour Moi revealed the mare to have been galloped on the off-hind leg.


Race 4:

Maiden Handicap - 1100m
1st - Lugo; 2nd - Barsine; 3rd - Rosebrn

WINNER FEEDBACK:
It is always pleasing when an apprentice, who doesn’t get that many opportunities, makes the most of the chance when it is offered to him.

Apprentice jockey Jason Kropp did just that when he guided Lugo to victory for his stable boss Trevor Miller.

“He did exactly what I asked,” stated Miller. “I told him not to get involved in any speed battle.

“He got to the rail. He did really well. It’s hard for him because I can only put him on my horses, but this win will give him a bit of confidence.”

Kropp was thrilled with the outcome.

“If you settle him behind a horse he just goes to sleep,” said Kropp.

“But I knew I had to be on the fence, because I knew they would fan out on the turn.

“Then I just gave him a bit of a dig and he produced a winning finish.

“This horse has been good to me. A third placing last time and now this win. It’s great!”

Kropp’s win meant that Trevor Miller’s two stable apprentices had not only each ridden a winner on the day – Michael Hughes scored earlier with Awaroa – but they also rode the quinella in this race as Hughes was on the runner-up, Barsine.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Heza Guru (M. Radecker) began awkwardly and lost considerable ground. Shortly after the start, Go Jesse Go (N. Thomas) was tightened for room between Lucy Bea (J. Taylor) and Rosebrn (P. Wolfgram). Near the 400m, Skilful Time (B. Calkin) shifted out and bumped heavily with Go Jesse Go (N. Thomas), resulting in Go Jesse Go becoming unbalanced. Heza Guru (M. Radecker) and Barsine (M. Hughes) raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Lucy Bea revealed the filly to be lame in the off-fore. Trainer P. Sexton was advised that he must produce a veterinary clearance for Lucy Bea prior to its next race start.


Race 5:

Class 2 Handicap - 1100m
1st - Fasliyev Dancer; 2nd - Von Zipper; 3rd - Observe

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Talk about taking no prisoners.

The Trevor Bailey trained Fasliyev Dancer wasn’t about to indulge in any chess game with the opposition.

Rather the mare relied upon pure power to intimidate her rivals, stretching out in the home straight, under a super confident ride by Terry Treichel, as if there was nobody else in the race – and very soon there wasn’t, as her rivals wilted under the pressure and were quickly dismissed and left behind to battle out a race of their own for the minor placings.

Fasliyev Dancer’s absolute dominance was reflected in two telling statistics.

The mare won by eight lengths and stopped the clock in a new track record time for the distance of 1:04.27.

Quite simply, it was no contest.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Galloping Rhymes (S. Cormack) was slow to begin. Sneaky Squirrel (J. Piper) knuckled on jumping away.
Galloping Rhymes raced wide throughout. Jockey A. Pattillo, rider of the 4th placegetter, Kalinga Kate, was fined $100 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over his declared riding weight. AR145.


Race 6:

Class 5 Handicap - 1100m
1st - Al Fawzi; 2nd - Crystal Sentinel; 3rd - That's Better

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Stewart MacKinnon trained Al Fawzi confirmed his particular liking for the 1100m trip when he won for the third time in four starts over the distance. It was also the gelding’s second win in as many starts over the (cushion) track and distance.

The manner in which the five-year-old lengthened his stride with meaning to come from some way back in the home stretch and quickly reel in the leaders was impressive.

“I wanted him ridden quietly,” explained McKinnon.

“When he is up with the speed he doesn’t finish off his races. If you let him relax rather, then he puts it in. The jock (apprentice Owen Turpin) rode him a treat.

“His previous two runs in the city were not bad at all, but he obviously likes it here. He picks up prize-money almost every time he runs here, on whatever surface,” concluded McKinnon.

Turpin explained his instructions and the decision he had to make in the race.

“Mr MacKinnon said not to go too soon,” said Turpin. “He said Al Fawzi would sprint home well ... but I still had to judge it.

“I didn’t want to leave it too late, so I sent him forward when I thought I should and things worked out according to plan.”

The winning margin was 0.80 lengths.

Al Fawzi was the first leg of a race to race double for Turpin.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Apprentice jockey J. Piper was fined$100 for failing to claim her full allowance on Crystal Sentinel. AR92 (12).
Passing the 1000m, Crystal Sentinel (J. Piper) was awkwardly placed when racing in restricted room to the inside of Red Enzo. Stravigent raced wide throughout.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1400m
1st - No Technique; 2nd - Lezant; 3rd - Public Nuisance

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Troy Hall stable has been rolling out winners at a fair rate recently and the Sunshine Coast based trainer put another notch on his belt when No Technique scored an untroubled victory.

“This has been his best preparation,” volunteered Hall. “He’s taken a bit of time, but he’s getting there now.”

Hall was quick to praise the ride of apprentice jockey Owen Turpin, who completed a double on the day with this win.

One race earlier, trainer Stewart MacKinnon had said Turpin had ridden Al Fawzi ‘a treat.’ Hall went one better than that saying of Turpin, “I reckon he’s got to be the most improved apprentice around.”

The win took Turpin to the top of the Sunshine Coast jockey’s ladder. It’s early days yet to be sure, but that is not a bad place for a jockey to be any time of the year.

“Nice to be there. Difficult to stay there,” said Turpin.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
T. Chambers, rider of Vettorious, was severely reprimanded for excessively slowing the pace after crossing to take up the lead near the 1000m. In this incident, Public Nuisance (L. Dittman), No Technique (O. Turpin) and Kin Kiss (E. Wilkinson) were all inconvenienced as a consequence.
T. Chambers, rider of Vettorious, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 250m she permitted her mount to shift out whilst riding it along when being insufficiently clear of Ancient Titles (S. Cormack), resulting in Ancient Titles being checked and losing its rightful running. T. Chambers was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 23 September, and to expire at midnight, 3 October 2008. T. Chambers (Vettorious) was reminded of her obligations to ride her mounts right out to the finish of the race.


Race 8:

Class 1 Handicap - 1600m
1st - Mr Megs; 2nd - Mulga Bob; 3rd - Hot Pride

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Paddy Cunningham won the last throw of the dice, going home a winner after Mr Megs landed the final event on the card.

Cunningham had initiated two gears changes and an increased the distance test for Mr Megs’ latest assignment and the move paid dividends as the four-year-old chestnut finished too strongly for the hard-chasing Mulga Bob.

“The change of gear? Well, he was wanting to go hard so I changed the gear (blinkers off first time, Norton bits on first time) to try to rectify that,” explained Cunningham.

“Distance wise ... last time (over 1400m) he loomed up and then seemed to just keep wacking away.

“The jock (Ryan Wiggins) got off and said I shouldn’t be afraid to run him over a mile. I said I was thinking that too.

“So yeah, we went with gear and distance changes. It all worked out well. Doesn’t always, but happy to take it when it does,” concluded Cunningham, just as he was congratulated by his daughter Kylie, who had come across after dismounting from Craiglea Symphony, on which she had finished unplaced.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Correct weight was delayed to ascertain if Isti Pollywas afforded a fair start. Stewards found that Isti Polly reared as the start was effected, losing considerable ground. In this incident, A. Spinks lost the use of his off side iron for some distance. Trainer T. Miller was advised that an official warning would be placed on the gelding. Sweet Addiction (R. Mason) was held up and unable to gain clear running from the 350m to the 250m.
K. Cunningham, rider of Craiglea Symphony, was reminded of her obligations to ride her mounts right out to the finish of the race. Bradash (G. Auckram) raced wide throughout.
J. Piper, rider of the 3rd placegetter, Hot Pride, was fined $300 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over her declared riding weight. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account the beaten margin between Hot Pride and the second placegetter, Mulga Bob. AR145.