DOOMBEN REVIEW (WED, OCT 15)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Wednesday, October 15.

Race 1:

Maiden Plate - 1640m
1st – Heartland; 2nd – Smartness; 3rd - Crackinghorseluck

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Shaun Dwyer: “The extra ground helped but I really don’t know if the others were much good. I actually think she is looking for 2000m and she certainly will be given that chance sometime in the future. She’ll probably have another run before that though. No, Jim did not jump ship. (Jim Byrne had ridden Heartland in the mare’s two previous starts). Laura rides some work for me and I thought I’d give her a chance.”

Jockey Laura Cheshire: “This is my first City winner in Australia. I’ve been here about fifteen months. I came over from New Zealand and then EI broke out. My first winner in Australia was for Shaun Dwyer at the meeting held at Deacon during the EI crisis. I won on Teary Eyed, who actually beat Heartland who was the favourite on the day ... and now Heartland has given me my first city winner so the early connection has come through again.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When the pace slowed leaving the 1200m, Smartness (S. Cormack), which commenced to pull hard at the heels of Heartland, shifted out and raced 3 wide for the remainder of the race.
Stewards questioned J. Byrne and trainer M. Webb in relation to the disappointing performance of Nobby’s Mate. J. Byrne explained that throughout the race today the horse did not feel comfortable, and when asked for an effort on straightening, Nobby’s Mate did not let down under hard riding as expected and in fact was under pressure before the home turn. Mr Webb stated that whilst the horse has only had a couple of starts this preparation, he felt that Nobby’s Mate may be looking for a spell. A post-race veterinary examination of Nobby’s Mate failed to reveal any abnormalities.
When questioned regarding the performance of Costplus, M. Bennett was unable to offer any tangible explanation other than the horse did not perform up to expectations. Trainer B. Laming was also unable to provide any valid reason for the performance and advised that he would now review the gelding's current program.


Race 2:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1350m
1st - Vintage Mo; 2nd - Handon Hero; 3rd - Bootooloo

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Stable spokesman Scott Morrisey: “I said just take him to the front mate. It was a big run last time from a bad barrier on his debut. He lost to an older horse who came out and won again next time. He did it at both ends on his debut and we thought if he could run his own race, and get a jump on the others, they would struggle to catch him.”

Vintage Mo was jockey Joshua Jones’ first winner since his city riding license was re-instated.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As a result of the pace slowing leaving the 1200m, Handon Hero (L. Rolls), Rocking Rooney (S. Scriven) and Prince Royale (S. Galloway) all pulled hard. S. Galloway, rider of the 4th placegetter, Prince Royale, was fined $400 for failing to ride his mount right out to the end of the race. AR137(b) A post-race veterinary examination of Vintage Mo revealed the horse to be suffering from mild heat stress.


Race 3:

Class 5 Handicap - 1350m
1st – Jujulio; 2nd - Gun Belle; 3rd - Romantic Journey

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Crane: “It was a good effort second-up. It was still nowhere near his right distance. He wants 2000m. The small field is always a worry, but things worked out perfectly.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “I waited a bit and I would have been happy to go forward, but they took it up halfway through which is all I needed. I just wanted it to be close to a genuine speed and that was good enough for me. The horse finished it off well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As B. Pengelly failed to arrive on course in time to fulfil his engagement on Jujulio, J. Byrne was substituted as the rider of Jujulio. B. Pengelly was fined the sum of $200. LR49. Trainer M. Mair was fined $100 for presenting Crystal Sentinel to the enclosure without its tongue tie. Crystal Sentinel (K. Pope) jumped outwards at the start and made heavy contact with Blue Oyster (L. Rolls), forcing it out on to Jujulio (J. Byrne). Crystal Sentinel pulled hard in the middle stages and was inclined to lay out after leaving the 800m.


Race 4:

CG&E Maiden Handicap - 1110m
1st – Rublana; 2nd – Encosticated; 3rd - Kyuss

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Cherie O’Neill: “I got the horse from Bevan Laming. The reason for dropping back in distance was that I just decided to go back and start from scratch. I had no great expectations, but I’m obviously happy to get a win for the owners.”

Jockey Danny Craven: “He raced well until he hit the front. He was ready to give it away halfway up the straight. He needed that other horse to come at him and when that happened, he took it on again ... fought on well.”

Rublana was Craven’s third winner in the last eight days. He is quickly making his mark following a lengthy absence from Queensland racing.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sandminer was declared a late scratching at 2.14 pm after the horse was unable to be loaded into the barriers. Trainer B. Bowditch was advised that Sandminer must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start.
Bandito Rapido (M. Palmer) was slow to begin.
Stewards questioned trainer P. Duff and apprentice M. Radecker regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Classic Force, which finished midfield. M. Radecker stated that she rode the horse hard in the early stages to hold a position, however rather than continuing to engage in a speed battle, she eased the horse around the first turn, however Classic Force dropped the bit and lost ground, finishing towards the rear of the field. She added that the horse obtained an uninterrupted run along the rails in the straight, however felt extremely awkward in its action and had a tendency to lay out, which restricted her in fully testing her mount. The explanation was noted. The Snicster lost its off hind plate in running.


Race 5:

F&M Handicap – 1110m
1st – Laravissante; 2nd – Yatala; 3rd - Ensconce/Don't Push Me

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “She’s a nice horse. That is why we were so confident. We didn’t really want to ride him that way but over this distance we didn’t really have too much option. She will need further.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Beautiful (R. McMahon), Burn So Cool (T. Pannell), Questify (P. Hammersley) and Hitno Bay (A. Pattillo) missed the start. Erintee (A. Spinks), Tikit To Glory (D. Griffin) and Stratplan (J. Taylor) raced wide in the middle stages. Beautiful (R. McMahon) improved on to the heels of Yatala (B. Pengelly) near the 50m and was obliged to shift out.
Hitno Bay (A. Pattillo) hung out badly rounding the home turn and was not competitive over the concluding stages. When questioned, jockey A. Pattillo stated that the horse felt uncoordinated and was breathing abnormally over the latter stages and as such he eased the horse out of the race for fear something was amiss, dismounting just past the finishing line. A post-race veterinary examination of Hitno Bay failed to reveal any abnormalities however due to an abnormal respiratory noise, stewards ordered Hitno Bay must trial satisfactory prior to its next race start, as well as having an endoscopic examination carried out, with the results provided to Queensland Racing.


Race 6:

Class 4 Handicap - 1640m
1st - D'Elcatraz; 2nd - No Technique; 3rd - Life's Short

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Paula Campbell: “I didn’t think they would let him lead again. I thought they would have learnt from last time. Not surprising he kicked on so well. He’s bred for a mile-and-a-half.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prince Puzzle bled from both nostrils during the event. As this was the second time that Prince Puzzle had bled, the gelding now would be barred from racing for life.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1350m
1st –Shifteman; 2nd - War Eagle; 3rd - Maximiss

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Brown: “The gear changes (nose roll off first time; pacifiers on first time) were a factor. She shied at the running rail last time. But it was also a different class today – an easier class. Last time in the stronger class they ran faster sectionals. This tempo here was more to his liking.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “He is still doing things wrong in the running – but he is learning. He is not quite there yet. but he will make quite a good horse when he does do everything right. Not quite there yet though.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Notre Amour reared in the barriers and got it a foreleg over the barrier partition. A veterinary examination revealed the mare not suitable to race. As Notre Amour has had a history of misbehaviour at the barriers and has been barred on 3 previous occasions, stewards ordered that Notre Amour will have its nomination to race refused for 2 months, and will have to obtain 3 barrier certificates, 2 of which must be obtain in official trials. AR50.
Gelmood (C. Reith) jumped away awkwardly and got its head up and was inclined to over-race after leaving the 1200m. Leaving the 1200m, Shifteman (B. Pengelly) had to be restrained off the heels of Simian Express (L. Rolls). Simian Express had difficulty obtaining clear running on entering the straight and until leaving the 200m. Near the 300m, Rabbit Nagina was disappointed for a run between Maximus (D. Griffin) and Gelmood (C. Reith), and when the horse was making ground, had to be steadied close to the finish line after improving on to the heels of Shifteman (B. Pengelly).


Race 8:

Class 3 Handicap- 1110m
1st –Fiamore; 2nd - Lachlan Valley; 3rd - Atomic Huss

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Fiamore was held wide throughout but was produced on cue by Brad Pengelly to race into contention when it mattered most. The gelding had to dig deep to see off the determined challenge of Lachlan Valley in a stride for stride battle to the line which was eventually resolved in favour of Fiamore by a nose.
Fiamore gave jockey Brad Pengelly a race to race double. The rider might well have had a hat trick on the day. Pengelly was due to ride Jujulio, the winner of the third race, but he failed to make it to the track in time to take up that engagement.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Kenshe (R. McMahon) jumped in the air at the start and lost ground. Atomic Huss (L. Rolls) jumped away awkwardly and also lost ground at the start. Leaving the 700m, City Lights (J. Holder) raced in restricted room between Fiamore (B. Pengelly) and Dr Kah (A. Pattillo), which attempted to move away from the rails. Fiamore raced wide throughout.
Stewards questioned jockey A. Pattillo and trainer S. Dwyer regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Dr Kah, which did not finish the race off as expected. A. Pattillo stated that he intended to position his mount behind the leader, however after being a little slow to jump, he rode his mount hard to maintain a positon midfield and that after leaving the 700m he attempted to shift out from behind the heels of Falah and at that point made heavy contact with City Lights, which maintained its position. A. Pattillo explained from that point the horse seemed to drop the bit, and on straightening was reluctant to take runs to the inside of horses. He added that the horse, whilst stepping up to a Class 3, he felt that Dr Kah was somewhat immature and would be better suited over longer distances. Mr Dwyer confirmed his instructions and agreed that with the assessment of A. Pattillo, however he stated he would review the horse's preparation over the next 48 hours. He undertook to report to stewards any abnormality that becomes apparent with the horse. A post-race veterinary examination of failed to reveal any abnormalities and a swab sample was taken.

Thursday 16 October 2008

Following the poor performance of COSTPLUS, trainer B. Laming advised Queensland Racing Limited Stewards that after giving further consideration to the disappointing run of the horse and holding discussions he felt the horse may have got its tongue over the bit and has reviewed his decision to spell the horse and intended to experiment with a tongue tie on the horse.