DOOMBEN REVIEW (WED, OCT 8)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Wednesday, October 8.

Race 1:

3yo & Up Fillies Maiden Handicap - 1110m
1st - County Tale; 2nd - Plain Magic; 3rd - Champagne Pink

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelso Wood: “If she had the draw last time that she had today she won have won then. Because of the draw last time we had to ride her up too close and she just tired a bit at the end.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “She’s still just a bit inexperienced. On the corner she ran onto the heels of another horse and didn’t quite know what to do, but she finished off really enough.”

County Tale set a new class record of 1.04.62.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Leaving the 800m, Brave Gal (Matthew Palmer) got its head up when being restrained off the heels of Champagne Pink (Michael Palmer). Monashee Diva, which was following, had to be eased to avoid the heels of Brave Gal. Local Money (R. Wiggins) was caught 3 wide on the first turn and raced 3 wide throughout. Plan Magic (C. Reith) was held up rounding the home turn and unable to obtain clear running until the 300m.


Race 2:

3yo C&G Maiden Handicap - 1110m
1st - Gorm The Old; 2nd - Jack And Molly; 3rd - Belltone

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “He was caught last stride on debut when he was paying $18 on the tote – and I would have had some of that. Good win today.”They made him work all of the way with 58kg you know. That was a good effort.

Jockey Ric McMahon: He jumped well enough but didn’t have that much early speed. It took him a good 50m to settle into stride but once he did, he did it pretty well and had them covered. They were coming at him at the end but he wasn’t stopping and he did real good, particularly with 58kg.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Belltone (B. Pengelly) raced greenly in the early stages. Approaching the 1100m, Jack And Molly (S. Scriven) had to be eased to avoid the heels of Grey Encounter (A. Taylor), which shifted in. A short distance later, Happy Rhythm (N. Day) had to be eased to avoid the heels of Grey Encounter when that horse shifted across to the rail. A. Taylor, rider of Grey Encounter, was severely reprimanded and advised to provide more clearance when crossing in future. Arabian Moon got its head up and was inclined to pull hard rounding the first turn. Beach Kings (A. Erhart) was trapped 4 wide on the first turn and race wide for the majority of the event. After leaving the 800m, Monashee Matty (L. Rolls) had to be steadied when the horse over-raced at the heels of Bar Bender (R. Wiggins). Happy Rhythm (N. Day), which over-raced after leaving the 800, shifted out abruptly near the 700m, causing Cha Cha Man (J. Byrne) and Monashee Matty to be inconvenienced and taken wider on the track. When the pace slowed after leaving the 700m, Grey Encounter (A. Taylor) had to be steadied when it improved on to the heels of Gold Sovereign (M. Radecker). At the same stage, Jack And Molly (S. Scriven) raced ungenerously when it had to be steadied after improving on to the heels of Gorm The Old (R. McMahon).
Near the 200m, Bar Bender (R. Wiggins) had to be steadied away from the heels of Beach Kings, which shifted out slightly under pressure. A warning was issued to the connections of Happy Rhythm, which raced ungenerously in the middle stages. A post-race veterinary examination of Happy Rhythm revealed the colt to have sustained a laceration to the near side front coronet.


Race 3

CG&E Class 3 Handicap - 1110m
1st - Mr Steadfast; 2nd - Monashee Prince; 3rd - Conquering Spirit

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Owner Greg Grant: “Twelve months ago (down south with Peter Moody), he was a death’s door. In fact he was given the last rites he was so bad. He had a bacterial infection and he nearly died.
“Thankfully he pulled. He was a very promising earlier in his career but was never the same horse after the infection. So it’s good to get the win but it has been a long road back.”

Trainer Liam Birchley: “He’s been pretty ordinary this preparation until now. We tried blinkers on him last time and he wasn’t that comfortable. He dwelt at the start and messed around a bit in the race. I left them on though and he went better with them this time, so it does look like we are on the right track.”

Jockey Ryan Wiggins: “I was happy enough with him in the run. When I roared at him in the straight he gave me a good response and hit the line hard.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Conquering Spirit (S. Seamer) and Gallant Pilot (S. Apthorpe) were both slow to begin. Near the 250m, Snorkel (J. Holder) was disappointed for a run between Gallant Pilot (S. Apthorpe) and Toohotforu (A. Pattillo), which was taken out by Conquering Spirit when obtaining clear running. Gallant Pilot was caught 3 wide on the first turn and race 3 wide throughout. M. Hellyer, rider of Zahite, was severely reprimanded for using his whip on a horse which was out of contention. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Conquering Spirit (S. Seamer), S. Seamer stated that whilst the horse was a little slow to begin, the horse got clear before the 200m, however the horse did not accelerate as expected when clear and did not finish the race off as expected. Trainer Mrs G. Heinrich was of the opinion that the horse may be better suited by a longer journey. S. Seamer agreed with the trainer's assessment. A post-race veterinary examination of Conquering Spirit failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 4:

F&M Maiden Plate - 1350m
1st – Gracesynd; 2nd - My Counsel; 3rd - Ca Plane Pour Moi

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Carolyn Halliday: “She’s been up a while this prep. She did have month’s break after the Doomben run. I was worried here. She seems to be developing a tendency to get back in the running and I was concerned about where she was placed early. But I had confidence in Glen (Colless) and I thought the leaders seemed sure to come back to the field. We’ll come back to town again next time, maybe over a mile.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1250m, Out Ojay (J. Taylor) and Gracesynd ( G. Colless) both became unbalanced as a result of being placed in restricted room by Hayil The Irish (K. Cunningham), which shifted in and away from Honesty (S. Seamer), which was taken in by Gothic Storm (A. Merritt). A. Meritt, rider of Gothic Storm, and K. Cunningham, rider of Hayil The Irish, were both cautioned and instructed to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Acting Up (L. Rolls) got its head up and raced ungenerously when being restrained for some distance approaching the first turn. When questioned as to his riding tactics, in particular his efforts to lead in the middle stages, R. McMahon, rider of Martini Princess, stated that trainer Mr B. Gentle had instructed him to lead on the horse, and after applying some pressure to the leader, Honesty (S. Seamer), S. Seamer appeared intent on maintaining the lead, however Martini Princess would not settle after being ridden hard for the lead and the horse was inclined to hang out. Trainer Mr B. Gentle confirmed the instructions and agreed that the horse was disappointing and intended to review the mare's current racing program.


Race 5:

CG&E Maiden Plate - 1350m
1st – Greenhide; 2nd - Bearhart Gold; 3rd - Educated

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “His got good speed alright. Now that we have got the Maiden out of the way, I might just put him out for a while.”

Jockey Danny Craven: “He was not the best away, but he mustered speed quickly and then relaxed. I had to give him a kick along the way to remind him he was in a race. He though he was having a gallop and felt like he was getting ready to pull up. He just did it so easy.
“I want to thank Barry for giving me a chance. It’s nice to be back with a winner in Brisbane.”

Craven has been away for some time. He rode in Korea for ten months. He then took a short break to recharge his batteries before returning to the saddle.

Baldwin’s plan of spelling Greenhide changed to an enforced three month ban after the winner bled from both nostrils.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Jockey B. Pengelly was stood down by the club's doctor after aggravating an injury to his right wrist, which he had sustained at the barrier trials. B. Pengelly will be required to produce a medical clearance before he resumes riding. No Way Grey (R. Wiggins) was caught wide on the first turn and obliged to race wide throughout. Flirten (J. Holder), Red Treasure (G. Baker), Nice Looker (E. Wilkinson) also raced wide in the middle stages. Young Prince (L. Rolls) was held up rounding the home turn. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Zurges Boy, G. Colless stated that the horse travelled reasonably well until the 500m, however when placed under pressure from the 500m the horse did not respond to his riding and failed to finish the race off as expected. He added that the horse's 2 previous runs had been reasonable despite being on rain-affected tracks. Trainer A. Bailey felt that the horse may be better suited on rain-affected going and intended to give Zurges Boy a spell at this point. A post-race veterinary examination of Zurges Boy failed to reveal any abnormalities. The club's veterinary surgeon reported that Greenhide had bled from both nostrils. Trainer B. Baldwin was advised that Greenhide would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.


Race 6:

Class 4 Handicap- 1350m
1st - You're On Merv; 2nd – Daedalus; 3rd -Gun Belle

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “Now you know why I was so bullish about him when he won first time. It was a very wise buy of John’s.

Owner John Fish: “My dad’s name was Merv. He died last March. He saw this horse and liked it. He said give it a nice name and put something on for me when it runs because I’ll be dead by that time. So I promised him I’d put $1000 on every time it ran. He was on it today. So, that’s how the horse got its name.”

Jockey Ric McMahon: “I always knew I had the race won when I got within three lengths of them without moving. The only hiccup was when Matty Palmer’s horse (Gun Belle) rolled out and then rolled back in again and tightened me for room, but otherwise there was no dramas.”

You’re On Merv gave jockey Ric McMahon a double on the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Leaving the 900m, Our Lukas (S. Scriven) shifted out from behind the heels of Gun Belle (Matthew Palmer) and made contact with Daedalus (S. Seamer), forcing that horse 3 wide for a short distance. Near the 100m, Gun Belle shifted out abruptly, causing S. Scriven, rider of Out Lukas, to stop riding and take hold. Approaching the finish line, S. Scriven , rider of Our Lukas, again had to stop riding when tightened for room between Daedalus, which shifted in under pressure, and Gun Belle, which shifted out under riding. M. Palmer, rider of Gun Belle, was advised to take greater measures to straighten her mounts.


Race 7:

Class 3 Plate - 1615m
1st - D'Elcatraz; 2nd – Denby; 3rd - Cape Chivas

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Paula Campbell: “I’ve only had my license for about two weeks. Maurice (Paula’s husband) rides a lot of work for Bevan Laming and in Queensland you are not allowed to have two licenses. So it was my turn to get a trainer’s license.
“The horse was sent to me from New Zealand. People Maurice used to train for own the gelding. The tracks were just getting wetter and wetter down there and they thought it might be an idea to get him up here.”

Maurice Campbell (a former top jockey and Group 1 winning trainer): “The best ride won the race”.

D’Elcatraz provided jockey Jason Holder with the first leg of back to back race winners on the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after jumping away, Dive At Five (K. Pope) and Prized Packet (Matthew Palmer) were tightened for room between Swirling Moss (J. Bowditch), which shifted out, and Acinonyx (R. Mason), which shifted in. As a result of the tightening, Dive At Five (K. Pope) clipped the heels of Swirling Moss and blundered. D’Elcatraz (J. Holder) blundered on jumping away. Near the 1300m, Swirling Moss got its head up and was inclined to over-race at the heels of D’Elcatraz (J. Holder). When the pace slowed near the 1200m, Jusin Case (C. Reith), which was pulling hard, shifted out off the rails and made contact with Acononyx (R. Mason), forcing that horse wider on the track. Justin Case continued to pull hard and for some distance raced ungenerously, obliging R. Mason, rider of Acinonyx to race 3 wide for the majority of the race. Prized Packet (Matthew Palmer) also pulled hard when the pace was slow in the middle stages. Shouldawon (J. Taylor) hung out approaching the home turn and made the home turn awkwardly. Upon straightening, Swirling Moss shifted out to improve and made contact with Great Portent (N. Day).
J. Bowditch, rider of Swirling Moss, reported after the race that his mount was inclined to lay out and was of the opinion there may have been something amiss with the gelding. A post-race veterinary examination of Swirling Moss failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Jockey R. Mason was cautioned regarding her comments in the scales' area towards jockey C. Reith following the race.


Race 8:

F&M Class 3 Handicap - 1110m
1st - Acquired 2nd - Chabeli 3rd - Fasliyev Dancer 4th - Pamalashar

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Wallace: “She’s just had a few maturity issues but now that she is starting to hit her straps I think she is going to be a top class horse.”

Jockey Jason Holder: “I wanted to give her some galloping room like I did last time but I thought, gee, the others are not helping so we’ve got to do something. He took up the challenge though. Good horse.”

This was Acquired’s second successive win.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Savanna La Mar (A. Pattillo) and Fasliyev Dancer (T. Treichel) bumped near the 900m. Framboise (S. Scriven) was caught 4 wide on the first turn and raced 4 wide throughout. Savanna La Mar, which had been held up rounding the home turn, had to be checked away from the heels of Getyourown (K. Cunningham) on straightening and near the 300m again had to be checked off the heels of the tiring Getyourown. A post-race veterinary examination of Getyourown revealed the horse to have sustained a minor laceration to the near side hind leg. Acquired (J. Holder) was inclined to shift ground outwards under pressure in the run to the finish.