IPSWICH REVIEW (FRI, NOV 14)

A review of the meeting held at Ipswich on Friday, November 14.

Race 1:

Maiden Handicap - 1710m
1st - Whatahoute; 2nd - Ronstadt; 3rd - Nice Looker

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Patrick Sexton: “He’s had various trainers. He’s had various issues. What we’ve done is we’ve just bided our time with him. Things have never been quite right with him and we’ve just waited and waited. You must give a plug to Mitchell Fry. He rides work on the horse and he has put in a lot of time trying to get the horse right. This is probably the first time we’ve come to the races where we thought things were going as well as we could have them.”

I pointed out that the number of gear changes that had been made probably also played their part in Whatahoute’s improvement. According to the race-book, Whatahoute had: Blinkers off again. Nose roll on first time. Boots (front) on first time ... and a last point, which probably prompted the quote of the day from the trainer. According to the race-book, Whatahoute had been gelded since his last run.

Trainer Patrick Sexton: “No. No, he hasn’t been gelded. Have a look. He’s got bigger nuts on him than a rhinoseros.”

The information supplied in the race-book is important. It needs to be accurate.

Jockey Jason Warrington kept Whatahoute well off the speed in the early part before asking the five-year-old to push forward wide out on the track in the sweep to the turn. Whatahoute made up ground relatively quickly to be ready to challenge once the field turned for home and he maintained his momentum, following through with his effort all the way down the straight to earn a clear-cut victory.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As apprentice J. Piper was to be overweight, jockey D. Green was substituted as the rider of Cinquacasino as no other apprentice was available. Apprentice Piper was fined the sum of $300. Under AR120(b). Jockey G. Geran was also overweight and was replaced by R. Goltz on Lava Man. G. Geran will be interviewed regarding this matter. Lava Man (R. Goltz), which was inclined to over-race during the early stages, shifted out near the 1200m and then raced wide until approaching the 900m.
Approaching the 700m, Got the Cash (W. Clasohm) raced up on to the heels of Ronstadt (A. Coome) and as a result had to be checked. Back A Winner (A. Spinks), which was following, was forced to shift out, forcing Rosebrn (C. McIver) wider on the track. Ronstadt was momentarily held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Whatahoute shifted in under pressure from the 100m onwards.
When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Don Vito, B. Pengelly stated that from an inside barrier he had anticipated being able to take up a forward position today, however despite his urgings, was forced to settle Don Vito in a rearward position. He added that when he rode the horse vigorously leaving the 700m, Don Vito again failed to respond to his riding and proved disappointing. He further stated that, in his opinion, the gelding was not suited by the reduction in distance today, and may be looking for further ground in its races. Trainer T. Sears representative advised stewards that she agreed that the drop back in distance today may have contributed to the performance and gave an undertaking to report to stewards any abnormality which may come to light which may have contributed to the performance.
Trainer P. Sexton was questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of Whatahoute. He stated that in the last week he had varied his training practices with the horse in that he had schooled the gelding over jumps, and, in his opinion, this together with a gear change of blinkers off and nose roll on, had resulted in the improved performance today.
A post race veterinary examination of Traditions Time revealed the gelding had bowed its off-fore tendon.


Race 2:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Handicap - 1350m
1st - Sittinbul; 2nd - Bootooloo; 3rd - Chadwick

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Strapper Sheree Drake (speaking in a state of semi-shock): “We didn’t think he could win. We thought they’d be too strong for him. We didn’t have a cent on the horse. I can’t believe it. I did think he would develop into a fair sort and he reason to improve – blinkers on first time, the step up in distance, but we didn’t see this coming.”

Jockey Daniel Griffin: “His form said he couldn’t win it and on his work – he’s lazy – he rated a place chance at best. Then suddenly he decided to put it all together on race-day.”

Sittinbul jumped into an early lead and then took a trail in second when Bella Sea took up the running. The gelding railed beautifully under a solid ride from Dan Griffin and never had to go around a horse as Bella Sea shifted out and faltered, giving way to Sittingbul and Chadwick, who rallied on the outside but came up a length short of the winner at the line.

The connections of Sittingbul were not the only ones to leave the horse lonely on the betting boards. The three-year-old was the extreme outsider in the field, coming back at odds or $41,00.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Approaching the 1000m, Red Silver (T. Pannell) was forced to ease when tightened for room between Super Moon (A. Pattillo), which shifted out slightly when over-racing, and Bootooloo (C. Reith), which was taken in by Silver Whisper (R. Wiggins). Levi’s Bid (S. Scriven), which was following, overreacted when steadied by its rider and shifted in, making contact with the running rail, losing considerable ground. Whilst stewards acknowledged the contribution of Super Moon, R. Wiggins, rider of Silver Whisper, was reprimanded. Super Moon continued to over-race and near the 900m shifted out, making heavy contact with Bootooloo, forcing that horse wider on the track. Red Silver, which was following, also had to be steadied as a result. Canadian Pearl (J. Taylor) over-raced during the middle stages. Chadwick (K. Wharton) raced wide throughout. Canadian Pearl bled during the event. Trainer R. Turgeon was advised that the filly would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.


Race 3:

CG&E Maiden Plate - 1100m
1st - Kiss The King; 2nd - Jester Canny; Go 3rd - Flirten

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gary Wells: “The reason he sprinted up so well is the gap I’m allowing him between runs. I’ve also backed off on his work quite a bit. The freshness is the key and it worked out well today. The beauty of this game is that when you make mistakes you can keep it to yourself. When you get something right, you can tell everybody about it.

Jockey Ron Goltz: “He did get back a little further than I thought he would, but when I pulled him out he did it really well. He won with something up his sleeve.”

Kiss The King was ridden patiently early and was asked for his effort shortly after switching out into the clear at the top of the straight. The gelding gradually reeled in the frontrunners under a gentle urging from jockey Ron Goltz and he appeared to go to the line with a little more in hand than the official margin suggests.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Spin Kat (S. Wright) was slow to begin. Little Ombra (W. Clasohm) began awkwardly and shortly after shifted out, tightening Thor Real (D. Green) on to the hind quarters of Jester Canny Go (J. Wood). Leaving the 800m, Little Ombra, which was racing greenly, lost ground after shifting out and making heavy contact with Kiss The King (R. Goltz). Thor Real, which was following, was obliged to shift out to avoid that gelding's heels. Thor Real then commenced to hang out and did so for the remainder of the event. Connections of Thor Real were obliged that a warning was being placed on Thor Real regarding its racing manners. Kiss the King was momentarily held up rounding the home turn. Leaving the 400m, the breast plate on Flirten broke, causing the saddle to slip backwards, placing its rider at a disadvantage for the remainder of the event.


Race 4:

F & M Maiden Plate - 1100m
1st - Falzina; 2nd - My Cara Mia; 3rd - Glennie West

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Gollan: “She’s a pretty unruly sort. She’s had three runs, three different jockeys, different gear changes ... that tells a story. That’s why we picked a bit of a soft option today. It’s all about education and the only way she’s going to learn to do things better is through racing experience. And yes, she has got ability as you saw here. She set a New Class Record without really having to work too much at all, so the ability is there. It’s just a question of going through the learning process.”

Jockey Ric McMahon: “She’s a really nice horse, but she is a bit fruity. The first time she raced she ran right off the track. She pretty much always wants to hang out. She was much better today. I had no problem with her in terms of settling or anything like that. It was just on the turn again she did want to hang out a bit and that’s when I had to work on her. Once we’d straightened up it was all sweet. She just has to learn what it is all about.”

Falzina was always up with the speed and edged forward to take up the running coming through the 650m. My Cara Mia was the filly’s only real danger throughout the running but, although she chased with some determination in the first half of the home straight, My Cara Mia failed to match the effort of Falzina over the final 150m leaving the winner to come home under a confident hands and heels ride from Ric McMahon.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hitno Bay (W. Clasohm) raced wide throughout.


Race 5:

QTIS Class 2 Handicap - 2200m
1st - Heartland; 2nd - French Venture; 3rd - Overruling

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Shaun Dwyer (who, after the mare’s Maiden win two runs back, stated on this site he thought the mare would stay ten furlongs): “She was a bit of a victim of circumstances last time. She only got out late and was flying home. We actually thought we might lead here, but it didn’t work out that way. She did it pretty easy once she pulled out for a run though.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “We thought we would probably lead but some of them went pretty quick early and came across me so I just let her settle where she was comfortable. Then they slowed the pace down the back and I was stuck on the rail and I couldn’t help being shuffled back. I thought the connections were going to throttle me if I didn’t get out of there. Once we did get out though it all went well. It was a good strong win in the end.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Barako (P. Hammersley) stood flatfooted at the start, losing considerable ground. Near the 1700m, Overruling (C. Reith) commenced to over-race and shifted out, forcing King Ripley (D. Green) wider on the track. Overruling continued to over-race, shifting wider on the track. C. Reith, rider of Overrulling, then elected to allow his mount to stride forward to assume the lead at a point approaching the 1000m. Heartland (J. Taylor) was momentarily held up approaching the 400m. Undine (D. Griffin), Barako and La Mouette (S. Scriven) all raced wide from the 700m onwards.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of La Mouette, S. Scriven stated that although the mare was forced to race wide from a point leaving the 700m, he was disappointed in its finishing effort and could offer no tangible explanation. A post race veterinary examination of La Mouette failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 6:

F&M Class 1 Handicap - 1100m
1st - Ashita; 2nd - Magnetic Appeal; 3rd - Kistaclang

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Todd Pannell: “I sat just behind the leaders and she was simply cruising. When I pulled her out she responded and kicked on well. Yeah, I did know the other one was coming (Pannell was talking about the flying Magnetic Appeal who got within a nose of the winner at the line). I saw her alright. It was a very good win because my horse was short of a run. Fitness-wise she had a job on her hands and she handled it really well.”

The result was a feather in the cap for Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson as it was a year to the day since Ashita was last in action.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer B. Dodson was advised that he would be required to provide a further barrier certificate for Ashita, which proved difficult to load. Broken Link (B. Evans), which was slow to begin, was hampered shortly after the start by Ashita (T. Pannell), which jumped away awkwardly.
Jockey S. Campton, rider of Gazillion, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that he permitted his mount to shift in near the 900m, resulting in Magnetic Appeal (D. Griffin) being tightened for room, causing D. Griffin to take hold of Magnetic Appeal and lose his position. S. Campton was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 9 meetings, to commence at midnight, 15 November, and to expire at midnight, 27 November 2008. Innangana (K. Wharton) raced wide throughout.


Race 7:

CG&E Class 1 Handicap - 1100m
1st - Kayowed; 2nd - Revered Ruler; 3rd - Alloway King

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Neil Owen: “He’s had his issues, being a Kenfair. All Kenfair’s have their issues don’t they? He has his moments, let’s put it that way. All credit to Clint Roberts who has done a lot of work with the horse ... Oh no, they can’t do this to me. (The last was spoken on hearing that a protest had been lodged against the winner).

A protest was lodged (second against first).
Inside the protest hearing, jockey Tony Pattillo, the rider of the second placed Revered Ruler, stated his reasons for putting in the protest. These reasons included the fact that, in Pattillo’s opinion, Kayowed had shifted out from one off the fence to five wide just after straightening ... at the 150m had proceeded to keep shifting out “to meet my horse (Revered Ruler) and put him off his game” ... as well as the fact that the two runners had got so tight that jockey Taylor (on Kayowed) had “hit my horse over the head, at least once, maybe twice.” Pattillo concluded with the statement that, “If I had not met interference and been allowed to remain fully balanced and in full stride, I would definitely have beaten the winner home as the interference cost me in excess of the winning margin (which was a short-head).”

Darren Bell, trainer of Revered Ruler, concurred with Pattillo’s statement, and he reiterated the view that if his horse had been allowed to maintain a straight line, the result would have been different.

Jockey Jason Taylor responded to Pattillo’s claim. “There is absolutely no evidence of my whip hitting his horse. His horse did want to shift in as well which contributed to the tight running and I believe his run peaked 100m out and he was not going to beat me.”

Neil Owen, trainer of Kayowed, said those protesting must have been watching a different race to him and he believed the result should stand.

The protest was dismissed.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On return to scale a protest was lodged by A. Pattillo, rider of the 2nd place-getter, Revered Ruler, against Kayowed being declared the winner, alleging interference over the concluding stages. After taking evidence from the parties concerned and viewing the patrol video, stewards found that over the concluding stages whilst Kayowed shifted out, resulting in Revered Ruler being struck over the head by the whip of J. Taylor, rider of Kayowed, stewards could not find that this materially affected the finishing positions of both horses and the protest was dismissed and the Judge's placings confirmed.
Trainer T. Gollan was advised that he would be required to provide a further barrier certificate for Alloway King, which proved difficult to load.
Jockey C. Spry, rider of Magical Joker, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that near the 900m he permitted his mount to shift in, resulting in Miliardo (R. McMahon) being tightened for room and taken in, causing Penalized (A. Spinks) to be tightened and as a result clipped the heels of Miliardo and blundered, losing considerable ground. C. Spry was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 15 November and to expire at midnight, 28 November 2008.
Near the 700m, Kayowed (J. Taylor) shifted out, tightening Savana Royale (D. Griffin) on to the hind quarters of Miliardo (R. McMahon), causing Savana Royale (D. Griffin) to be steadied.
Leaving the 400m, Costner was disappointed for a run between Nova Chenka (D. Tanti) and Savana Royale and had to be steadied when Savana Royale shifted in under pressure. D. Griffin, rider of Savana Royale, was advised to exercise more care. Costner was held up momentarily for clear running leaving the 300m. Alloway King (S. Bogenhuber), which had a tendency to hang out throughout the event, shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages. App. Jockey S. Bogenhuber, rider of Alloway King, was advised to stop riding and straighten her mounts in similar circumstances. Regal Mountain (B. Evans) raced wide throughout.


Race 8:

Class 2 Handicap - 1350m
1st - Maxmiss; 2nd - Albuquerque; 3rd - Quisatana

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Laurie Richardson: “Her last run gave a warning of what was to come, but even before that she wasn’t finishing way back in the field or anything like that. She was never that far back. She has to be ridden the way she was today. If they go too slow, it’s no good. It has to be the way it was here. I’m so happy with the result. The mare belongs to a wonderful, wonderful owner who’s not so well at the moment and this will provide a nice boost for him.”

Jockey Daniel Griffin: “Last time she was held up for a run. I had to wait for the favourite to get out before I could go and her run home was huge. I thought she’d take some beating with a clear run this time, so I made sure I pushed her into the clear at the top of the straight and she charged home as expected.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Larry’s Song (T. Pannell) raced wide in the early stages until obtaining the lead leaving the 800m. The Guardian (R. Wiggins) raced wide during the early and middle stages. Mistress Of Dreams (C. Spry) raced wide from the 600m onwards. Near the 500m, Ground Swell (S. Bogenhuber) and Shaos improved to the inside of The Guardian (R. Wiggins) where there was doubtful room. A short distance later, The Guardian shifted in slightly, resulting in Ground Swell losing its position. Both Quisitana (J. Wood) and What Is This (A. Pattillo) were held up for clear running rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight. Shaos was held up for clear running from the 250m onwards. Approaching the 50m, Ground Swell was forced to check when tightened for room between Mistress Of Dreams (C. Spry) and Bet ‘N’ Barney (R. Goltz), which was taken out by What Is This, which had been taken out by Dubby Boy (C. Reith), which shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider after being buffeted by Quisitana, which had obtained a tight run between that runner and Larry’s Song (T. Pannell).