DOOMBEN REVIEW (WED, OCT 22)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Wednesday, October 22.

Race 1:

Maiden Handicap - 1110m
1st - Jack And Molly; 2nd – Medesano; 3rd - Tekke Bokhara

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “Gee but he was short wasn’t he. He’s a bit of a flighty sort. We’ve had a few problems with him, attitude wise. He over-raced in the middle of the race on debut. He seemed better this time.”

Jockey Shane Scriven (standing next to a grinning Kelly Schweida): “Kelly suggested the horse over-raced first time, did he? What a foolish statement. No, it was more of a stop, start affair first time. That’s why I was happy to give him more rein here. If the leader wanted to come back to us, I would not have restrained him. I would have still let him go. When he got to the front I thought he might start looking around, but he did alright. I guess you could call it a fair training effort.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gold Sovereign (J. Byrne) missed the start when it jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, making contact with Flight Lord (R. McMahon). Passing the 900m, Brokacanon (B. Pengelly) was cramped for room by Plata Rapa (M. Bennett), which raced in restricted room inside Jack And Molly. Holyfield (A. Pattillo) was inclined to hang in and raced greenly rounding the first turn. Near the 700m, Eclise, which was inclined to over-race, had to be steadied off the heels of White Rum and shifted out, obliging Gold Sovereign to race wide on the track.
Ornamental Figure (R. Wiggins) raced 3 wide for the majority of the race.


Race 2:

Class 4 Handicap - 1030m
1st - Je Ne Sais Pas; 2nd - Scent Of Gold; 3rd - August Fair

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Cherie O’Neil has nine horses in work. Her last two runners have been winners: “I just left the run of the race to Danny (Craven). I’ll give her another run ... try her over 1200m. Then I’ll probably give her a spell.”

Jockey Danny Craven: “Only a small field, drawn six, you’d think it wouldn’t be a problem. But then you jump and suddenly all of the five horses inside you are racing for position, so I was caught wide. I wasn’t concerned because she seemed to be comfortable. She had 58kg so I didn’t want to get into her, but I chased when I had to and she fought hard all the way to the line. Both Cherie (O’Neill) and I know that she is just crying out for 1200m now, which she’ll get next time.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 700m, August Fair (S. Drake) had to be steadied when it improved on to the heels of Goyousoandso (S. Cormack). Je Ne Sias Ps (D. Craven) raced 3 wide throughout the race. A post-race veterinary examination of August Fair revealed the mare to be lame in the off foreleg. Trainer M. Kropp was advised that he would be required to provide a veterinary clearance for August Fair prior to its next race start.


Race 3:

Maiden Plate - 1350m
1st – Octahedron; 2nd – Unapred; 3rd - Flirten

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Geoff Burns: “He’s got potential obviously, but he is still so green. He’s a four-year-old but acts like a two-year-old. He wants to run around. Still, he hasn’t run a bad race yet so it’s nice to have something to work with.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start, Faunius (P. Hammersley) shifted in and inconvenienced Royal Hope (B. Payne). Leaving the 1100m, Royal Hope over-raced and raced ungenerously for a short distance. R. McMahon, rider of Delezio, dropped his whip near the 250m. Near the 200m, Delezio had to be steadied when cramped for room between Flirten (J. Holder) and Octahedron (B. Pengelly), which was inclined to hang in. Octahedron continued to race ungenerously and shifted in, having to be straightened to avoid tightening Unapred (J. Byrne). J. Byrne, rider of Unapred, reported that his mount was inclined to lay in throughout the race. S. Drake, rider of Tickle Me Quick, was cautioned for using her whip excessively when the mare was out of contention. Trainer Mr G. George reported that following the disappointing run of Conbar, he intended to review the horse's current racing program.


Race 4:

Maiden Plate - 2060m
1st – Soutane; 2nd – Virgil; 3rd – Crackinghorseluck

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Matthew Palmer: “He did well enough. He started to feel the pinch a bit near the finish, but he has been crying out for this sort of distance and he raced accordingly.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT
When being restrained rounding the first turn, Homesick (R. Wiggins), shifted out slightly on to the heels of Crackinghorseluck (S. Scriven). Homesick (R. Wiggins) was caught wide after the start until assuming a position outside the leader leaving the 1200m. Leaving the 1100m, as a result of the pace slowing, Crackinghorseluck improved on to the heels of Homesick and shifted in, causing Trojan Joy to be hampered and shift in, making contact with the running rail. When tiring near the 500m, Trojan Joy struck the running rail and shifted out, making contact with Don Vito (N. Evans). Near the 100m, Virgil (J. Jones), which was inclined to shift in under pressure, brushed Soutane.


Race 5:

Class 3 Handicap - 2060m
1st - Thunder Beach; 2nd – Rockaria; 3rd - Cape Chivas

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “He was unlucky when stepping up to 1800m at the Coast last time. He had a perfect passage here and relished the longer trip. The further they go, the better he’ll be.”

Jockey Michael Heagney: “Had no worries in the run at all. Just pulled him out approaching the straight and he did the rest.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Denby was declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at 3.19 pm. Want To Break Free shifted out just past the winning post on the first occasion and made contact with Tornado Blitz (A. Taylor). Near the 1600m, Great Portent (A. Spinks) over-raced at the heels of Thunder Beach (M. Heagney) and had to be steadied. Great Portent then shifted out and proceeded to move forward 3 wide and assumed a position outside the leader near the 1400m. Passing the 1400m, Tornado Blitz (A. Taylor) had to be eased to avoid the heels of Temangum Bay which shifted in after being caught 3 wide. G. Hoobin, rider of Want To Break Free, was reprimanded for shifting his mount out abruptly near the 300m when not sufficiently clear of Temangum Bay and Deferred, resulting in those runners being forced wider on the track. G. Hoobin (Want To Break Free) dropped his whip near the 250m.


Race 6:

Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st – Firedrake; 2nd – Dewabbit; 3rd - General Albert

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Owner Hoss Heinrich: “This one’s got to be all about the jockey. Focus on the jockey. It is Tasha’s first city winner and she gave the horse an A Grade ride.”

Apprentice jockey Tasha Chambers: “It does mean a lot to me having my first city winner. It takes a bit to get here and to have it arrive in only my second ride in the town is also good. I’m so pleased it was on Firedrake as well. I ride him in work and he is one of my favourite horses. I’ve won on him before (at the Gold Coast) and I knew he had a big chance today. I had a fall at Murwillumbah on Monday and had a bit of bruising but I was alright to ride. So things go up and down, but it all came together. I’m very happy.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Approaching the 800m, Dewabbit (S. Scriven) brushed the running rail when racing in restricted room inside General Albert (J. Jones), which was also hampered due to Periander (M. Bennett) which shifted in. M. Bennett, rider of Perianda, was cautioned and advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Dauntless (M. Heagney) raced 3 wide throughout. A. Coome, rider of the 5th placegetter, Funk Soul Brother, was reminded of his obligations to ride his mounts right out to the finish of the race. Apprentice A. Coome, was fined $100 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over his declared riding weight.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Jacaranda Charm; 2nd - Savanna La Mar; 3rd - West Of Hollywood

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Ruming: “We’ve had a bit of luck with Kevin (Forrester). He’s been good to us and we got a good result again. That’s why we stick with him.”

Jockey Kevin Forrester: “Sometimes you have got to ride for luck. When it works out, like it did today, it’s a great option. She just flew when given a gap. Hit the line beautifully.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Simian Express (L. Rolls) and Wifi (M. Paget) came together at the start. Near the 550m, Wifi shifted out from behind the heels of Savanna La Mar (P. Hammersley) and made contact with West Of Hollywood (A. Taylor). After being held up in the early stages of the straight and then being disappointed for a run between Lots Of Success (J. Byrne) and Bonne Affaire (C. Reith) near the 200m, The Third Bird (R. McMahon) could not obtain clear running over the final 200m and went to the line without being fully tested.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Chabeli, J. Jones stated that the horse travelled well throughout running, however when asked for an effort the mare did not respond. Trainer K. Kemp stated that prior to the race he notified stewards that he would instruct the jockey to take advantage of its wide barrier draw and race in a more forward position today. Mr Kemp added that in hindsight Chabeli may be better suited being ridden back rather than ridden to maintain a forward position. A post-race veterinary examination of Chabeli failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Trainer Mr L. Mayfield-Smith was interviewed regarding the disappointing performance of Simian Express. He stated that the horse had pleased him in preparation for today's race and had not had an over-taxing preparation, however he felt that there was a possibility the mare may be suffering from a seasonal complaint. Mr Mayfield-Smith undertook to monitor the horse's condition in the days following the race and would notify stewards of anything he felt may have had a bearing on the disappointing run today. A post-race veterinary examination of Simian Express failed to reveal any abnormalities.