IPSWICH REVIEW (THURS, OCT 23)

A review of the meeting held at Ipswich on Thursday, October 23

Race 1:

Class 5 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Prayer Chamber; 2nd - Course He's Canny; 3rd - Welcome Site

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Chris Dawson trained Prayer Chamber is not going to have many easier wins than he achieved here, particularly when doubling up on the back of a successful result in his previous outing. The six-year-old was never stressed in trouncing his rivals, having the race won long before he reached the winning post.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Androuge, trainer's representative Miss Salmi could offer no explanation other than to say that the horse had done well in preparation for today's race. Apprentice R. Hinricks was also unable to offer any explanation other than to indicate that the horse did not finish the race off as expected. A post race veterinary examination of Androuge failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Trainer L. Madden subsequently informed stewards that after giving further consideration to the disappointing run, he felt that the horse may have been somewhat jaded after its previous start at Eagle Farm on a heavy track. He advised that he intended to have pathology tests carried out on the horse and would consider giving Androuge an ease up in its current preparation.


Race 2:

QTIS 3yo Class 1 Handicap- 1000m
1st – Kootenannie; 2nd - Miss Larkspur; 3rd - Sweet Cherub

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Shawn Dwyer: “Her last run was just too bad to be true and I still haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly what the problem was. I did put blinkers on first for the first time here. They would have helped, but I’m still not sure how much of the turnaround can be credited to them, because she has come on very nicely since that run anyway. Whatever it is, hopefully the problem has been solved one way or the other. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Kootenannie (R. Goltz) was hampered shortly after the start when Sweet Cherub (G. Colless) jumped outwards.
Joint Chiefs, which was caught wide rounding the first turn, over-raced for some distance in the middle stages and was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the race. Grand Mark (C. Spry) had difficulty obtaining clear running in the straight. Sweet Cherub (G. Colless), which raced 3 wide for the entire race, was found to have bled from both nostrils on return to scale. The club's veterinary surgeon confirmed that the horse had bled and the mandatory 3 month bar from racing was applied. A swab sample was taken from Sweet Cherub.


Race 3:

F&M Maiden Handicap- 1200m
1st - Laurinel Beauty; 2nd - I'm So Stunning; 3rd - Treasure Mountain

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Rex Lipp: “We were talking the other day and I told Tony (Pattillo), ‘good jockeys beat bad barriers’. I repeated it to him again today. (Laurinel Beauty jumped from gate 11). She’s always shown potential, but she has had maturity issues. Just maturity issues. Nothing else. Because of those issues it has taken time to get her competitive. In the last run of her first prep she ran into a place over 1600m here at Ipswich. That was the sign we needed. We gave her a break and she’s come back all the stronger. She’s by Semipalatinsk and her mother, Laurinel Argie won the Prime Minister’s Cup when it was still over 2000m, so she’s a stayer which makes the win over this distance very encouraging.”

Jockey Tony Pattillo: “Yeah he told me the ‘good jockeys, bad barriers story.’ He was just saying that to rev ne up. He always does it. Look, I guess you could say we had a pretty chequered run for much of the way. I had to steer her and weave our way through traffic, but once she saw daylight it was all over. She should have a couple of more wins coming, but that was a weak Maiden field so you’ve got to weigh up the result accordingly.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
N. Thomas was dislodged from Stor Hest when the horse slipped in the saddling enclosure. Stor Hest was cleared to race by the club's veterinary surgeon. M. Palmer was also dislodged by Erintee when proceeding to the barriers. Erintee was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. Express Miss (R. Goltz) raced in restricted room near the 800m when tightened for room by Jelly Crystal (D. Green), which was taken in by Cubby House (J. Murphy). Near the 700m, Cubby House improved on to the heels of Lady Crown (L. Dittman) and then shifted out, taking Treasure Mountain (A. Spinks) wider on the track.
D. Green, rider of Jelly Crystal, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that approaching the 400m he permitted his mount to shift out when not sufficiently clear of Erintee (M. Palmer), forcing that horse to have to be checked away from the heels of Jelly Crystal. D. Green was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 6 meetings, to commence at midnight, 28 October and to expire at midnight, 4 November 2008.
Approaching the 400m, Express Miss (R. Goltz) had to be checked off the heels of the tiring Sharjah (M. Speers). Sharjah, when tiring leaving the 400m, hung out making contact with Lady Crown. I’m So Stunning (D. Craven) was badly held up for clear running in the straight until after leaving the 200m. Passing the 200m, Express Miss raced ungenerously and shifted out abruptly, making contact with Laurinel Beauty (A. Pattillo).
S. Holcombe, rider of Gold Gleam, was reminded of his obligations to ride his mounts right to the finish line. Treasure Mountain and Lady Crown raced wide throughout.
Stewards questioned A. Merritt as to his riding tactics on Hot ‘N’ Bothered, particularly in the early stages. A. Merritt stated that he had been instructed to ride the horse forward from its wide barrier, however the horse did not respond to the pressure applied and he attempted to position the horse midfield, however the horse had difficulty maintaining its position and he was of the opinion that the horse may be looking for a longer distanced. The explanation was noted.
Stewards questioned apprentice M. Speers and trainer Mr B. Baldwin in relation to the disappointing performance of Sharjah, which was beaten before the home turn and eventually compounded and finished at the rear of the field. M. Speers stated that the horse obtained the lead without any real pressure and travelled reasonably well in the early stages however dipped near the 750m. He added that when pressured by Lady Crown (L. Dittman) near the 500m, Sharjah failed to respond to his riding and compounded from that point onwards. M. Speers added that the horse had a tendency to climb in its action and was inclined to hang out. Trainer B. Baldwin could offer no explanation for the disappointing run. A post race veterinary examination of Sharjah failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. A swab sample was taken from Sharjah.


Race 4:

CG&E Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - The Beast; 2nd - Pampling Road; 3rd - Liquidate

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Bailey: “You can virtually take this as his first run. In his first three runs you couldn’t do a thing with him. He wanted to run off the track. We put him out and he has come back much better this time. We had him ready for the Big Maiden at Lismore, but he took a knock and hurt himself so he had to come out there. So we brought him here. His got plenty of speed and can run some time so he was able to overcome the disadvantage of the bad draw relatively easily.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “He’s a big unit. He’s going really well this time around. He’s still green, particularly on the turns. We missed the Big Maiden because he had a slight injury, but he’s we knew he was travelling well. We’ve never really had the opportunity let him go before. That’s why I pushed him out to the line today because, particularly with us, it’s part of his education. He’s got to learn to race.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 900m, Alta Loma (P. Hammersley) was tightened for room by Carbinconi (P. Wolfgram), which had been racing tight to its outside for some distance. P. Wolfgram, rider of Carbinconi, was severely reprimanded. When attempting to relieve the tightening, Carbinconi then became unbalanced and raced ungenerously for some distance. Thor Real (M. Heagney) over-raced in the early and middle stages. Near the 400m, Diamond Zak (A. Coome) was cramped for room between Pampling Road (D. Griffin) and General Remark (J. Murphy), both of which shifted ground. Reigning Chief (L. Rolls) and General Remark raced wide throughout.


Race 5:

3yo & Up Class 2 Handicap - 800m
1st –Stunning; 2nd - King Dod; 3rd - La Frisc

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ron McCrae: “She’s always been a nice horse, but she’ll be better now after her operation.. She’s been out of action a long time – nine or ten months I think. The reason for that was that she had a knee operation. She was running in some of those races with knee chips before the operation. She’s come back strong. She did it at both ends today. She had the speed at the start and the fight at the finish.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Dr Chicago (B. Evans), which was slow to begin, was hampered shortly after the start when King Dod (J. Taylor) shifted out. Werunna Sun (J. Piper) hung out on the home turn. When questioned regarding the riding tactics adopted on Dr Chicago, in particular in the early stages of the straight and in the run to the finish, apprentice B. Evans stated he had difficulty fully testing his mount due to its tendency to lay in. The explanation was noted.


Race 6:

Class 1 Handicap - 1666m
1st – Dimension; 2nd – Biancool; 3rd - Mrs Dittmier

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Miller: “He’s disappointed us in her previous three runs this prep (twice as favourite). He’s just switched off and lost interest mid-race and went back three or four lengths. Then he’d finish off well ... so it’s been frustrating. Today he put it together, but he is still a worry. If he was caught in-between runners and he got a bump, he probably would have said ‘that’s my race’. He’s that kind of horse.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Imperial Grouch (J. Wood) missed the start. Jordane (P. Hammersley) commenced to over-race after leaving the 1400m and the horse then over-raced for some distance in the middle stages. Apprentice L. Dittman, rider of Fletchers Mutiny, was fined $200 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram overweight.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1350m
1st – Gather; 2nd - Magique Mine; 3rd - Nagem

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ray Nicholson: “She over-raced in town last time which cost her. Even though she was 15-1 we went there because we thought she had a chance. So we were confident here. Phillip (Wolfgram) got her to settle well and she put in the end. She’s bred to go a lot further and we’ll probably step her up next time.”

Jockey Phillip Wolfgram: “We had cover straight away so she had no problem settling early this time. If she had seen daylight it might have been a different story. But she did start pulling approaching the turn and the harder she pulled the weaker my arms got. My only real worry though was when we straightened. I wasn’t certain that she would be able to sprint home, because sometimes when they pulling they don’t always quicken up straight away. But she did a good job. She hit the line beautifully.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Akoya (J. Taylor) was tightened for room near the 400m between Keep A Dream Alive (C. Whiteley) and King Of Spirit (M. Hughes), which shifted in away from Road To Honours. On straightening, Goggler, commenced to lay in under pressure and near the 100m shifted in and hampered King Of Spirit.


Race 8:

Class 1 Handicap - 1350m
1st - Wind Gusts; 2nd - Oscar The Great; 3rd - Slinky Chelle

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ted Ainsworth: “From that draw we just had to go back. He’s been his own worst enemy. He keeps on boring in on them. So I changed the bit last time and we seem to be getting him right. He finished third there at Toowoomba but he had excuses. He had a terrible float trip up. We got stuck in traffic. He still wanted to lay in a bit today but he’s going straighter. He made up ground real well in the straight and that’s never easy to do with 57kg.”

Jockey Daniel Griffin: “We elected to go back from the draw. He did have work to do but he just reeled them in beautifully. Yeah, I always thought I was going to win. Ted’s one of those trainers that I’ve been lucky with. You know how you get that sometimes ... when you just do well with somebody. When Ted says they going to win, they win!”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Slinky Chelle (D. Craven) jumped away awkwardly and missed the start. Imaged (L. Rolls) was slow to begin. A short distance after the start, Slinky Chelle had to be steadied away from the heels of Irish Fun (P. Hammersley), which shifted in slightly. Passing the 800m, He’s Wise (B. Evans) became unbalanced and had to be checked when racing in restricted room between Siege (K. Forrester), which shifted out slightly off the heels of Boss Cocky (M. Radecker) and Irish Fun (P. Hammersley), which shifted in away from In Sha Tin (A. Spinks), which was momentarily steadied to avoid the heels of Slinky Chelle. On straightening, Wind Gusts (D. Griffin) had to be steadied when disappointed for a tight run between In Sha Tin and Oscar The Great (J. Holder) when that run closed as a result of both horses shifting ground.