DOOMBEN REVIEW (SAT, OCT 25)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Saturday, October 25.

Jockey Glen Colless yet again showed he is a class above most of his rivals in Brisbane when landing a race-to–race hat-trick aboard Desdamona, Woody ‘N’ Buzz and Ghetto Blaster, winning for three different stables.

Desdamona continued her exceptionally consistent run for trainer Pat Duff. Woody ‘N’ Buzz (Alan Bailey) found his feet this time around after finishing as a beaten favourite in his previous two starts while Ghetto Blaster (Gillian Heinrich) underlined his well above average ability by winning for the fourth time in his last five starts. His overall record now stands at eight wins from fourteen starts.

The smart two-year-old Ready To Venture, who is trained by Norm Stephens, made it two from two while Rob Heathcote’s On The Up continued to climb the comeback trail after nearly being sacked ten days ago.


Race 1:

QTIS 3yo Handicap - 1615m
1st – Seesawing; 2nd - Athenas Gift; 3rd - Adnocon

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “She’ll have another run in two weeks time over 1600m. But I think she’ll be even better ridden quiet over 2000m.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “She was a bit of a handful before the race, but was fine once we were in action. She had excuses last time and the run before that was enormous, so she just had to get a decent passage and a reasonable tempo to win today. Definitely looking for more ground – 2000m.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Seesawing (J. Byrne) was slow to begin. Passing the 1400m, Athena’s Gift (S. Scriven) shifted out off the heels of Warrior Within and in doing so made contact with Adnocon (K. Pope). Athena’s Gift, which was racing outside the leader, over-raced for some distance and threw its head in the air when being restrained. Rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight, Offshore Trader, which was endeavouring to force Adnocon out to obtain clear running around the heels of Athena’s Gift, was unable to do so and therefore disappointed. Near the 50m, Adnocon had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Seesawing, which shifted in. J. Byrne, rider of Seesawing, was reprimanded.


Race 2:

2yo Handicap - 1010m
1st - Ready To Venture; 2nd – Annalisha; 3rd - Bella Sirena

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Jason Taylor: “He didn’t jump that well again and I gave him a dig and I got there (to the lead). The blinkers were on for the first time today and they sparked him up. The other one (Annalisha) came past and I probably should have let him roll a bit quicker, but he was travelling well.
“When we set out after the leader we were always going to catch her, it was just a matter of when. He’s got plenty of speed but I still have doubts if he’s a sprinter anyway. I think he’s going to go over distance.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Our Charmaine was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon behind the barriers and found to have blood in its mouth due to a dislodged tooth cap. Annalisha (R. Goltz) was slow to begin. Empezar (K. Pope) and First Lieutenant (J. Byrne) hung out in the early stages. Empazar (K. Pope) raced greenly in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination of Huckleberry Dane revealed the gelding to be suffering from acute shin soreness in both forelegs. Trainer L. Birchley will be advised that Huckleberry Dane will require a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to its next race start.


Race 3:

QTIS NMW Handicap - 1010m
1st - Monashee Knight; 2nd – Sequablue; 3rd - Earnshaw

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Tony Pattillo: “This is my first win in town for some time so it’s a huge monkey off my back, mate. Hopefully it’s the end of the drought and the floodgates will open now. Yeah, the horse took a lot of riding to get there but he kept responding and got the result.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Courtyard Circle (J. Byrne) and Covet Gold (A. Taylor) were slow to begin. True Flyer (K. Yoshida) was severely crowded on jumping away between Kneel And Rise (R. Goltz) and Earnshaw (R. McMahon), which shifted out after jumping away awkwardly. Captain Wheland (J. Jones) jumped away awkwardly.
Apprentice O. Turpin, rider of Sequablue, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that passing the 800m he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Youcantseeme (A. Spinks), which had to be checked to avoid the heels of Sequablue. Patties Mate (M. Radecker), which was following was hampered in consequence. O. Turpin was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 29 October, and to expire at midnight, 6 November 2008.
True Flyer (K. Yoshida) was inclined to lay in from after the start until near the 700m. Kneel And Rise (R. Goltz) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. Approaching the winning post, Captain Wheland (J. Jones) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Sequablue and Monashee Knight (A. Pattillo), which shifted in. A. Pattillo, rider of Monashee Knight, was reprimanded. Hodges Street (D. Craven), Fiamore (K. Wharton) and True General (C. Whiteley) raced wide throughout.


Race 4:

Open Handicap - 2020m
1st - On The Up; 2nd – Currigee; 3rd - Pay Me

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “Isn’t it amazing how well a horse can go when he gets his confidence back. This horse was going to be sacked if he didn’t feature in his race last week. The owner said he was gone. The horse had a ligament problem and he was off for three months. Then he came back and struggled and people were saying he hadn’t got over the injury or that he had just reached the limit of his performance. But all of the time he was racing in races with no speed, on ground he didn’t like. So we didn’t really know where the truth was.
“But we found out when he got speed in the race on better going and won last time ... and he did it again today. It’s all about confidence. He was a far more confident horse today after last week. Now we’ve got a lovely programme coming ... a race in two weeks and then another two weeks after that. What a difference a week makes. He could have been gone!”

Jockey Joe Bowditch: “It was a pretty good win. There was good speed on early which he needed. They did slacken off in the middle, but he wasn’t really worried by that. He stuck to his task well in the straight. I didn’t always think we were going to get there. At one stage I thought we looked like running on into third but, to his credit, he kept at it and hit the line hard.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Passing the winning post on the first occasion, On The Up (J. Bowditch) had to be steadied off the heels of Tariki (P. Hammersley), which was taken in by Very Canny (T. Pannell). T. Pannell, rider of Very Canny, was advised to exercise more care. Passing the 1000m, Grand Laddie improved up to the inside of Tariki (P. Hammersley) and had to be steadied. Approaching the 150m, Rezone(K. Pope) was tightened for room and had to be steadied when attempting to take a narrow run between Pay Me (J. Byrne) and Grand Laddie (J. Holder), which shifted in when not fully clear. J. Holder, rider of Grand Laddie, was reprimanded. J. Holder, rider of Grand Laddie, dropped the whip near the 200m. Approaching the winning post on the final occasion, Pay Me (J. Byrne) shifted in, making contact with Grand Laddie (J. Holder), which in turn shifted in and bumped Tariki (P. Hammersley). J. Byrne, rider of Pay Me was reprimanded. After taking evidence, stewards adjourned an inquiry into the riding tactics adopted on Very Canny to a date to be fixed.


Race 5:

QTIS 1MW Handicap - 1350m
1st -Hey Elvis; 2nd - Deception Bay; 3rd - Pentacity

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Hill: “I entered him in two races and then decided that the 1350m would be easier on him than the 1200m. He’s been in work since July 1, so was raring to go. It’s just good to have him back and firing.”

Jockey Paul Hammersley (who benefitted from a pick-up ride when Brad Pengelly failed to make the weight): “I wanted to sit just off the pace, ideally fifth or sixth, but he jumped that well I just let him roll. He did get a bit tired towards the end, which is understandable first-up, but he had done enough.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As B. Pengelly was to be overweight, P. Hammersley was substituted as the rider of Hey Elvis. B. Pengelly was fined $100. Cajun Moon (M. Radecker) and Moppett (M. Palmer) bumped on jumping away. Shortly after the start, Pentacity (R. McMahon) was tightened for room between You’re On Merv (J. Bowditch) and Lucky Luna (J. Byrne), which shifted out. Nepro (A. Taylor) was hampered shortly after the start between Intemperate (R. Wiggins) and Hey Elvis (P. Hammersley), which shifted in. Deception Bay (C. Reith) and You’re On Merv over-raced during the early stages. You’re On Merv raced wide throughout.


Race 6:

F&M Handicap - 1200m
1st –Desdemona; 2nd - She's In The Guide; 3rd - Insistence

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “She’s the most consistent horse racing in Brisbane. She’s never finished out of the first two. She’s run into the likes of Simplest and Burdiken Blues. I felt that I was rushing her a little bit this time. I trialled her on Tuesday, and it’s always a worry when you trial a filly that close to a race. But she came through well.”

Desdemona has finished either first or second in all of her nine starts to date. The mare provided jockey Glen Colless with the first of the three race-to-race winners he would salute on during the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The starting time of this race was delayed approximately 5 minutes as an electrical and hail storm passed over the racecourse. On The Fridge (J. Byrne) was slow to begin. Dance Girl Dance (R. Goltz), which jumped away awkwardly, shifted out, making contact with Insistence (M. Palmer). Insistence over-raced passing the 900m until near the 600m. Rounding the home turn, Dance Girl Dance shifted out to improve and in doing so forced Desdemona (G. Colless), Insistence and Acquired (J. Holder) wider on the track. On The Fridge (J. Byrne) was held up for clear running inside the final 150m. Red Letter Daze (R. McMahon) and Rapid Babe (P. Hammersley) were held up for clear running inside the final 50m.


Race 7:

Chancellors Cup CG&E Class 6 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Woody ‘N' Buzz; 2nd - Another Takeover; 3rd - Borsha's Mark

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Bailey: “He was tested last time over 1400m – particularly as he carried 58kg. He’s only small. Look at him. He’s only a pony. Things suited him much better this time.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “I probably rode him a bit closer than I should have last time. I was always going to snag him back from the draw today. He was more relaxed ridden back and I got a great run home (on the rail), didn’t I?”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Save A Buck (J. Taylor) stood flatfooted at the start and lost considerable ground. Trainer T. Hardy was advised that he must provide a barrier certificate for Save A Buck prior to its next race start. Take Off (A. Spinks) jumped away awkwardly. From passing the 600m until shortly after straightening, Borsha’s Mark (J. Byrne) was inclined to hang out.
Apprentice jockey M. Hellyer, rider of Elegant Roi, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that he allowed his mount to shift out rounding the home turn when insufficiently clear of Askew (Matthew Palmer), resulting in that horse having to be checked. M. Hellyer was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 6 meetings, to commence at midnight, 29 October and to expire at midnight 5 November 2008.
Woody ‘N’ Buzz (G. Colless) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. Conquering Spirit (J. Holder) broke down behind near the 100m and was euthanized on humane grounds. Take Off, which was following was obliged to shift ground outwards to avoid Conquering Spirit. Fangles (C. Whiteley) and Askew (Michael Palmer) raced wide throughout.


Race 8:

Quality Handicap - 1350m
1st - Ghetto Blaster; 2nd - Mr Hornblower; 3rd - Nexgen

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gillian Heinrich (who forty minutes earlier had experienced the ultimate low in racing of having one of her runners (Conquering Spirit) put down due to injury: “I’m heading for a stiff drink.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “He was pulling early, for about 100m or so, but then he got cover and he settled well. After that, I really just had to get him to the outside at the right time to win, and that’s how it panned out.”

Ghetto Blaster provided jockey Glen Colless with a third successive win on the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Master Denis, which was fractious in the raceday stall, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. Lombardy (Matthew Palmer) blundered on jumping away and shifted in, making contact with Frosty (P. Hammersley). Majorca (J. Byrne) was crowded for room on jumping away between Cocktail Supreme (J. Taylor) and Nellie Got There (S. Cormack), both of which shifted ground. Ghetto Blaster (G. Colless) over-raced in the early stages. Master Denis (C. Whiteley) was held up from shortly after straightening until after passing the 200m. Cocktail Supreme and Lombardy raced wide throughout.


Race 9:

Class 6 4yo & Up Handicap - 1615m
1st – Altaica; 2nd - Kanetoshi King; 3rd - Deacon

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The John Troy trained Altaica backed up and punished those who had not recognised the merit in her run last week, where she only capitulated in the very last stride to the useful Malandrina. Yet again apprentice jockey Amy Taylor showed her strength in the saddle with a powerful ride, which was a major influence in delivering the result.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Karate Kid (Matthew Palmer) and Deacon (A. Coome) were slow to begin. Dream Gal (D. Craven) raced wide in the early stages. Altaica (A. Taylor) over-raced in the early stages.
Stewards questioned A. Coome regarding his riding of Deacon, especially in the early and middle stages when Deacon was settled at the rear of the field. Apprentice Coome stated that after being a little slow to begin he allowed the horse to settle where it was comfortable. He further added when passing the 700m he endeavoured to forced Dream Gal wider on the track to enable him to improve his position. He stated he was unable to do this and was required to wait until shortly after straightening to improve. He added that the horse ran home strongly. Apprentice Coome further stated that, in his opinion, he may have allowed DEACON to settle further back than it should. Stewards admonished apprentice Coome and advised him that, in their opinion, his ride lacked judgement in that passing the 1500m he allowed Karate Kid to take a position on the fence forward of him and again at the 800m he allowed Kin Kiss (G. Baker) to also take a position on the fence. Stewards were of the opinion that he should have allowed his mount to stride forward on both of those occasions and take a position on the back of Nasadispute (J. Bowditch), then maintaining a closer position.