EAGLE FARM REVIEW (WED, NOV 26)

A review of the meeting held at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, November 26.

STEWARTS SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT:
From QTC meeting, 26.11.08
Trainer B. Brown reported that Deception Bay had a slight pulse in its off foreleg and would now be spelled.
Trainer G. York reported that Nuclear Medicine had pulled up well following the event and, in his opinion, had been weighted to its best in that race. He further added Nuclear Medicine would gain improvement from the race.

From SCTC trials, 25.11.08
Trainer S. Dwyer pleaded guilty to a charge under AR59A(3), in that he presented a horse to trial at the on 25 November at Caloundra without first establishing its correct identity. Mr Dwyer was fined $500.


Race 1:

Maiden Plate - 2242m
1st – Don Vito; 2nd - Jouer Le Jeu; 3rd - Tyrconnell

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Sears: “I think the extra ground made the difference. He only lost by a nose and a neck in his two runner-up finishes. They were over 2000m and 2100m and he appreciated the longer trip here. He’ll run all day. He’ll run 2600m. He’ll take a break now. He’s been up for a long time. He’ll go to the paddock tomorrow morning.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “He’s not a horse blessed with a lot of ability, but he has one thing in his favour and that is he’s a trier. He’ll keep trying for you and that is what got him home today. I mean it took forever to get there, but he stuck to it and got home in the last few strides. I don’t think he is going to rise to any great heights but it was good to get this win on the board.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 500m, Biancool (J. Taylor) shifted out to improve and in doing so made contact with All The Jays (D. Griffin). Passing the 300m, Jouer Le Jeu (E. Wilkinson), when attempting to take a narrow run outside Arcangela (R. Wiggins) shifted out, making contact with the hind quarters of Biancool. When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Biancool, J. Taylor stated that the horse travelled well, however when placed under pressure on straightening failed to accelerate and, in his opinion, failed to handle the rain-affected track today. A post race veterinary examination of Biancool failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 2:

Maiden Handicap - 1400m
1st - Oigles; 2nd - Brokacanon; 3rd - Young Prince

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Stable spokesman Scott Morrisey: “He should have bolted in last time. He finished fourth and got third on protest. We expected him to do well here.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Brokacanon (S. Galloway) shifted in shortly after the start, making contact with Mr Nicholas (L. Rolls), which became unbalanced. Ugani Mor (J. Taylor) over-raced in the early stages. Young Prince (A. Coome) and Ugani Mor raced wide for the majority of the event. When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Brave Clang, Matthew Palmer stated that he had been instructed to position the horse midfield and was able to obtain a nice position. He added that Brave Clang travelled well in running, however when placed under pressure upon straightening, the gelding failed to respond to his riding and proved very disappointing. A post race veterinary examination of Brave Clang failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 3:

F&M Maiden Handicap - 1400m
1st - My Request; 2nd - Smartness; 3rd - Silver Tin

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Stable spokesman Scott Morrisey: “Her half-brother is a stakes placed runner, so it’s good for her to get the win on the board in terms of breeding.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer L. Richardson was fined the sum of $100 for negligently presenting Silver Tin to the enclosure without blinkers which was part of its approved racing gear. At the 1200m, Alamo (C. McIver) commenced to over- race and shifted out when being restrained, taking Smartness (L. Rolls) out on to Justly Proud (M. Hellyer), which in turn shifted out, taking Molly Jo (Matthew Palmer) wider on the track. Nearing the 1000m, Molly Jo, which was over-racing, was crowded for room between Secret Sensation (R. Wiggins), which shifted in slightly when over-racing, and Justly Proud, which when also over-racing, shifted out away from Finding Hope (R. Goltz), which was over-racing as well. In this incident, Molly Jo blundered. Finding Hope, Justly Proud and Secret Sensation continued to over-race for some distance.
Approaching the 800m, Pleasure Shot (Michael Palmer) improved up on to the heels of Chi Chi Grande (A. Spinks) and had to be steadied. Finding Hope, which was following, was obliged to shift out to avoid that horse's heels. At the same stage, Alamo improved up on to the heels of My Request (C. Reith) and had to be steadied. Smartness and Secret Sensation, which were following, both had to be steadied as a consequence. My Request and Secret Sensation were then forced to race wide for the remainder of the race.


Race 4:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st – Sharjah; 2nd - Age Of Heroes; 3rd - Rowland Princess

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “We not certain what happed with her last time.” (After finishing in the placings in her first three runs, Sharjah was punted to favourite in the previous start at Ipswich, but finished last.). “The only viable theory we came up with was that she must have hit herself. There is a spot in the running, about the 600m where she falters and nearly falls, and she was never going well after that. We took her back to the barriers and that, and there was nothing wrong. She’s worked well since, so really we can’t be certain what happened. We tried some gear changes here (blinkers and Norton bit) and they look like they helped. You just have to forget she went around the other day. This is her real form.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gundy Son, which took charge of its rider during the preliminary and galloped a circuit of the track, was declared a late scratching by order of the stewards. Trainer R. Heathcote was advised that an official warning was being placed on Gundy Son. A Pair Of Diamonds (E. Wilkinson) over- raced for a short distance near the 1000m. Nearing the 800m, A Pair Of Diamonds and Our Centurion (R. McMahon) were forced to race in restricted room to the inside of Age Of Heroes (D. Barron), which shifted in momentarily.
When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Social Cat, J. Bowditch stated that the horse began fairly and he was able to position the horse in the first half of the field as instructed. He added however that Social Cat was under pressure leaving the 600m and failed to respond to his riding upon straightening. Trainer P. Duff was unable to offer any explanation for the performance and undertook to report any abnormality to the stewards which may have had a bearing on today's performance. A post race veterinary examination of Social Cat failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.
When questioned regarding the improved performance of Sharjah as compared to its previous start, trainer B. Baldwin stated that following its disappointing performance he had his stable veterinary surgeon inspect the filly and he was unable to detect any abnormalities. Mr Baldwin further stated that he had afforded the filly 5 weeks between starts and felt this, along with the addition of blinkers and a Norton bit, may have contributed to the forward showing today. Stewards noted the explanation.


Race 5:

Class 4 Handicap - 1800m
1st - Justin Case; 2nd - Spin Zero; 3rd - Latin Idol

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “He really likes this track.” (Justin Case has now won twice, been placed second twice and third once in five starts at Eagle Farm). He’s been running against a fair class of horse as well. He beat Bugsytwoshoes in his Maiden win and Bugsytwoshoes came out and won at a Saturday meeting here. He was well ridden by Chris (Reith). He waited and held him up for a run which is the way I wanted it to go.”

Jockey Chris Reith: “He settled very well and we had a easy run early. At the top of the straight I was pretty confident. I just needed to find the run and we got that by shifting out. He does need to be given a little bit of space which is why he likes this track and he did take his time getting going, but he finished off well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Greenfinder (Matthew Palmer) raced wide for the majority of the event. Jockey M. Paget was reprimanded for the amount of whip he used on Bearhart Lad in the straight.
Aquaracer, which compounded from a point leaving the 600m, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities


Race 6:

Class 5 Handicap - 1200m
1st – Simplex; 2nd - Prince Lionheart; 3rd - Chabeli

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Brad Pengelly: “It was a good run first-up. You look at her. She is still on the big side and she should take a lot of benefit out of this run.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, jockey L. Herne made application to the stewards to have the Awase Ougi declared a non runner on the grounds it was not afforded a fair start. After taking evidence from L. Herne, starter Mr W. Shuck and viewing the official patrol video of the race, stewards were satisfied that Awase Ougi which reared as the gates were released, was afforded every opportunity to jump with the field and therefore declared the horse a starter. She’s A Mountain (L. Rolls) was fractious in the barriers and lost considerable ground at the start. Trainer R. Heathcote was advised that he must obtain a further barrier certificate for She’s A Mountain prior to its next race start. Go Sequalo (S. Scriven) also jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.
L. Herne, rider of Awase Ougi, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 1000m she allowed her mount to shift in, dictating the line of Miss Twist (M. Radecker), resulting in Miss Twist shifting in, tightening the running of Matzumi (C. Reith), resulting in Matzumi having to be steadied and losing its rightful running. L. Herne was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 26 November, and to expire at midnight, 7 December 2008. Chabeli (R. McMahon) over-raced in the early stages. Comic Echo (P. Hammersley) and Awase Ougi (L. Herne) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Teary Eyed; 2nd - Pyramids; 3rd - Sebastien

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Shaun Dwyer: “It’s only his second run back and he likes the give in the ground. He’ll move on from here. Will get better than this.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “He must be a full brother to a duck. He loved the going. Although I think he also goes well on good. I had a fair run early on then, coming into the home turn, I had to make a decision. I wanted to get to the outside but I wasn’t in a position to do so without possibly compromising my chances. I would have had to ease and switch around the heels of Funk Soul Brother to get to the outside early in the straight. I wasn’t happy doing that and chose instead to push forward on the inside and then find a way to ease out naturally on the way to the line. That worked out perfectly but, in the end, the way she let down I think she would have won even if I had eased off their heels, but I didn’t know that at the time.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 300m, Eye Eye Silver (K. Cunningham) had to be steadied when momentarily tightened for room between Costa Mucho (D. Tanti) and Radio Star (A. Spinks), both of which shifted ground slightly. Funk Soul Brother (R. Goltz) and Big Macca (A. Erhart) raced wide for the majority of the event. Prior to and during the running of this event heavy rain fell. Following this event the track rating was downgraded to a heavy 9. Stewards ordered that the track rating for this race be declared a heavy 9 retrospectively.

Due to continuing heavy rain and water pooling on several sections of the track, stewards, after inspection, deemed the track unsafe for racing and therefore the final race was abandoned at 4.50 pm.