SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (FRI, NOV 21)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Friday, November 21.

The way the Cushion Track was presented for racing at the Sunshine Coast meeting on Friday has reportedly been described by Queensland racing supremo Bob Bentley as being ‘a disgrace,’ Bentley added that, ‘The way the track raced was an embarrassment’... and ... ‘there is no doubt there was a stuff-up.’ (See Sunday Mail, Nov 23, Page 93).

Who am I to disagree?

Comments overheard as jockeys dismounted after each race left no room for any misunderstanding. Most believed it to be a heavy track, a view far removed from the official ‘Good 3’ rating advised in the Stewards Report and handed out to punters across the country.

Race times backed up the jockeys call. From the first race, when Hamatym won in a time a touch over four seconds outside the Class Record, there was more than just a hint of a problem. Some riders queried how their last 600m times in work in the morning were 33’s and 34’s while on race-day afternoon they were clocking 37’s and 38’s. Lastly, the kickback from the track (see photo section) told its own story of not only what the horses were running on but, equally important in terms of visibility and safety, what they were running through. It was not a pretty picture.

Racecourse Manager Murray Weeding, when approached after the last race on Friday, pointed out that the aim of the race-club was, “to present the track in as good a condition for racing as possible at all times,” He added that he and both Paul Harper, from the Cushion Track company, and Chief Steward Reid Sanders are working together to achieve that goal.

In the report in the Sunday Mail, Bentley is further quoted as saying, ‘The track was too soft. The hardness of the surface can easily be manipulated and, in this case, it wasn’t carried out properly. We had the manufacturer back there this morning and there wasn’t the slightest problem.’

But is it really that simple? Or is there, as some people believe, a learning curve attached to Cushion Track maintenance program, and indeed its viability as a racing surface, that needs to run its course before full knowledge of the working model is attained?

Clearly, if Bentley’s information is correct, and ‘the surface can be easily manipulated,’ there should be no more stuff-ups! Anything less will bring the second question into play.

The truth of the matter will reveal itself in the coming months.

Remember, it was Bentley who said Queensland Racing would not hesitate to take meetings away from a venue where the condition of the track did not meet the required TAB standard? Let’s hope we never have to go there.


Race 1:

Maiden Plate - 1600m
1st - Hamatym; 2nd - Our Wave; 3rd - So Long

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mick Mair: “It took long enough. It’s his twentieth start. He’s run a few good ones on this track but he’s been all around them. He’s turn had to come. All of those who beat him have moved on. He’s turn had to come around sometime and today was the day.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
So Long (R. McMahon), Hamatym (K. Pope) and Twinkling Star (C. Dixon) were slow to begin. Thewayoflife (E. Wilkinson) began awkwardly. Near the 1100m, Hamatym (K. Pope) improved up on to the heels of Our Wave (M. Hughes) and was steadied. Passing the 300m, Our Wave, which was weakening, and Shoja (C. Reith) bumped on numerous occasions. Resurrected (S. Cormack) and Nakamura Hirofumi (O. Turpin) raced wide throughout.


Race 2:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Handicap - 1000m
1st - Paramount; 2nd - Beyond The Limit; 3rd - Zekeza

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice Jockey Jaqui Brown: “The horse sat down in the barriers and I thought, ‘here we go, this is going to be fun.’ The attendants took her tail and she seemed alright, but she still jumped in the air and was unbalanced for the first few strides. I knew she had speed though, so I went forward otherwise I would have been caught five wide. Then she just kept grinding away in the straight. Just kept going.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
App. C. Dixon was fined $100 for accepting rides on Iggy’s Girl and No Quarter in this event. M. Hellyer was subsequently named as the rider of No Quarter. Paramount (J. Brown) began awkwardly and shifted out, making heavy contact with Kalinga Hood (K. Wharton), which in turn shifted in, resulting in Pure Slip (O. Turpin) being crowded between Kalinga Hood and Zekeza (N. Thomas). In A Bind (D. Griffin) was slow into stride. Paramount and Pure Slip (O. Turpin) raced wide throughout.


Race 3:

Maiden Handicap - 1100m
1st - Caucus; 2nd - Tuckclang; 3rd - Moubassin

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Fleming: “We bought him from Bart Cummings. He never raced for Bart. I worked down there for some time so I know how Bart moves some horses on when he gets overloaded – and we managed to pick up this one. He’s still learning and is getting better. He’s got the win. He’ll go for a spell now.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As D. Griffin was to be overweight, K. Wharton was substituted as the rider of Amaizemea. D. Griffin was fined $100. AR120(b). The start of this event was delayed due to Meydan proving very difficult to load. Trainer G. Kennedy will be advised that he must provide a barrier certificate for Meydan prior to its next race start. All Kiwi (A. Merritt) and Swift Cash (D. Van Bekkum) were slow to begin. Dad’s Boy Blue (W. Clasohm) began awkwardly. Lisaldetroy (S. Cormack) raced ungenerously during the early stages. Approaching the 450m, Tuckclang (K. Pope) was inclined to hang out, resulting in the filly having to be steadied away from the heels of Swift Cash (D. Van Bekkum). Elate And Excite (O. Turpin), Langtime (J. Taylor) and Amaizemea (K. Wharton) raced wide throughout.
When questioned regarding Tuckclang settling in a position well back in the field today, jockey K. Pope stated that after the filly was a little slow to begin, Tuckclang then received minor tightening approaching the first turn, which resulted in the filly settling further back than anticipated. He added that when placed under pressure from the 450m, Tucklang responded and finished the race off well. K. Pope further added that at this stage of the filly's preparation, in his opinion, Tucklang would be better suited over longer distances.
Stewards also questioned G. Auckram regarding the disappointing performance of Leapin Leana. He stated that the mare travelled well, however when placed under pressure from the 600m, Leapin Leana failed to respond to his riding and weakened noticeably in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination of Leapin Leana failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 4:

Class 1 Handicap - 1100m,
1st - What A Success; 2nd - The Sixties; 3rd - Wonkavator

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Rachel Mason: “He just relaxed so nicely today. He went to sleep. I didn’t have to go for him at all early on. I didn’t even have to go for him on the turn. I only asked him to do some work late in the straight. He was always in control.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer D. Steinbeck was reprimanded for presenting Backstroke and Shealma late to the enclosure. What A Success (R. Mason) shifted out and bumped Coxswain (R. Wiggins) at the start. Backstroke (D. Craven) and Maraquitas (E. Wilkinson) were both tightened for room shortly after the start between Amerrybridge (C. Isdale), which shifted in, and Devils Ransom (K. Cunningham), which shifted out. Near the 200m, Amerrybridge was inclined to shift in when placed under pressure. Amerrybridge (C. Isdale), Cosmic Express (C. Dixon) and Any Wonder (R. Hinricks) raced wide throughout.
A post-race veterinary examination of Coxswain revealed the gelding to have bled from both nostrils. Trainer B. Wakefield was advised that Coxswain would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months. The Club's veterinary surgeon reported that the The Sixties had bled from both nostrils during the event. Trainer T. Green was advised that The Sixties would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.


Race 5:

Class 2 Handicap- 1400m
1st - Raffael Nediym; 2nd - It's Wunderbar; 3rd - Our Heart

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida (when asked if he’d solved the mystery of the Cushion Track): “Yeah. Find one that handles it! What else do you want to know? He was trained to the minute. OK, seriously, he was second up, getting more ground and it was a good ride.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Our Heart (M. Palmer) was very slow to begin. Passing the 1300m, Sheeza Drama (R. Hinricks) had to be steadied when Raffael Nediym (C. Reith) shifted in. C. Reith, rider of Raffael Nediym, was advised to exercise more care. Tambo Tiger (K. Cunningham) raced ungenerously during the early stages. Passing the 800m, Bronze Warrior (D. Van Bekkum) shifted out across the heels of Raffael Nediym, and in doing so forced Sheeza Drama (R. Hinricks) wider on the track. Sheeza Drama was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the race. Near the 200m, Siege (J. Bowditch) broke down and was retired from the event. SIEGE was subsequently euthanised on humane grounds.


Race 6:

Class 3 Plate - 2000m
1st - No Limitation; 2nd - Beau Sam; 3rd - Hunka Burnin' Love

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall: “It was the ten furlong distance that did the trick mate. I was pretty sure he would do well over the trip. I’ve had him for four runs. When he came to me the talk was that 1400m would be his distance. I gave him two tries over 1400m. His runs were not bad, but not good either. Somebody said I should sack him. I said no, but I said what I would do is step in up in distance. In his fourth career start, he finished second over 2000m. For some reason, he’s never been back there until now, his twenty-first start. I was certain he needed more ground. We got a better result when he stepped up to 1600m and now we got the win over 2000m. Mr. Moraitis will be happy.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Barako (K. Wharton) was very slow to begin. Hinka Burnin’Love (W. Clasohm) began awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with Dawn’s Queen (S. Cormack). Dawn’s Queen raced wide during the early stages.
An inquiry was opened into the handling of Barako. After taking evidence from connections, the inquiry was adjourned to a time and date to be fixed. A post-race veterinary examination of Dawn’s Queen failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1000m
1st - Getyourown; 2nd - Reonmay; 3rd - Red Hot Pistol

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Paddy Cunningham: “We bred her. Once she won those two starts back to back in June we were pretty happy with the way she was going. You win a Maiden and a Class 1 in successive races anywhere and you are doing alright. At Kilcoy (the mare’s first win) she won from the front. At Beaudesert she came from behind. After that she went to Grafton at Carnival time. That was a very good run. She had to cross from a wide draw and that used up energy which left her weak in the finish, but she was still fourth not far behind the winner.

“She went for a spell than and her first-up run at Doomben was one of those first-up runs” (with a shrug ... the mare finished last). “Last time out she was at Kilcoy and she went down by a neck. It’s hard to say you lost a race because you had a number three barrier, but, the way it turned out the two runners inside her just kept her wide all of the way. Got the good result today though.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Foreshore (J. Taylor) was slow to begin. Our General (A. Spinks) and Getyourown (K. Cunningham) bumped on jumping away. Passing the 450m, Love Hit Me (K. Pope) was cramped for room between Shinko Ruler (W. Clasohm) and Reonmay (C. Reith), which shifted in slightly. Rounding the home turn, Getyourown (K. Cunningham) shifted out around the heels of Our Bella Star (S. Cormack) and in doing so forced Foreshore (J. Taylor) wider on the track. Leaving the 200m, A Little Dabl Doya (M. Hughes) was disappointed for a run between Chardonair (M. Palmer) and Our Bella Star (S. Cormack), which shifted in. As a result, A Little Dabl Doya was obliged to alter course to the outside of Our Bella Star in order to improve. Our General (A. Spinks) and Our Bella Star (S. Cormack) raced wide throughout.
A post-race veterinary examination of Love Hit Me revealed the filly to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia. Trainer T. Hall was advised that Love Hit Me must trial, and provide a veterinary certificate of fitness, including the results of an ECG, prior to its next race start. A post-race veterinary examination of Foreshore revealed the gelding to have heat stress and to have cast its near fore plate in running.


Race 8:

Class 6 Plate - 1400m
1st - No Technique; 2nd - Life's Short; 3rd - Where'smine

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall: “I can talk about the horse if you like, but what I really like is to give the jockey (apprentice Owen Turpin) some praise. I told you before, I would not have put him on six months ago, but he has just improved so much it is quite amazing. He is riding like an absolute star. As for the horse, he is just so consistent. He’s had nine runs this season for four wins, three seconds and one third placing. You can’t ask much more than that.”

No Technique completed a double for the Troy Hall / Owen Turpin combination on the day. This set of results took Hall into joint second placing on the Sunshine Coast Trainers Premiership ladder and moved Turpin into third placing just one win behind joint leaders Sean Cormack and Jana Piper in the Sunshine Coast Jockeys Premiership.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 800m, Crique raced up on to the heels of Where’smine (K. Cunningham) and blundered. Leaving the 400m, M. Okada, rider of Leverage, lost the use of his near side rein and as a result shifted in, forcing Cash In A Hurry (S. Cormack) across the running of Crique (K. Pope), causing that runner to be steadied. Cash In A Hurry raced in restricted room to the inside of Leverage from a point leaving the 250m. Craiglea Countess (C. McIver) raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Cash In A Hurry, which raced below expectations, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities