SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, NOV 16)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, November 16.

Race 1:

QTIS Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Upi Bay; 2nd - One Octave Higher; 3rd - Mr Nicholas

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mick Mair: “I thought he’d win last time (when first-up at 4-1). He finished some way back there. I’m not certain what caused the disappointment. Maybe it was the Cushion Track. Some of them go alright on it and others don’t. His form has always been of soft going and, apart from that one run, it’s always been pretty reasonable. The horse that he finished close-up behind on Coloundra Cup day, Arjuna gave a strong showing when finishing fifth or something in the Sandown Guineas yesterday. So yeah, I really thought he was due.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of the race was delayed when Upi Bay had to be re-plated behind the barriers. One Octave Higher (M. Speers) was caught wide during the middle stages of the event. Upi Bay (K. Pope) was inclined to lay out during the middle stages. Running Fox raced wide from a point leaving the 800m. Passing the 300m Mr Nicholas (S. Scriven) had to be steadied when disappointed for a run between Polish County (K. Wharton) and Riva Gold which shifted in slightly. Jockey S. Scriven was advised to ensure there is sufficient room when attempting runs in future.


Race 2:

Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Deniro Muy Grande; 2nd - Go Rainey; 3rd - Ninth Duke

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Holcolme: “It’s his first run for me so I can’t say what happened before. He’s hasn’t run for eight months so was pretty keen fresh. Also, he has been gelded since his last run which probably made a difference.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “It was bloody close. I thought the other one (Go Rainey) might just have lasted.” (Interestingly enough, correct weight was put on hold while Nathan Thomas, the rider of Go Rainey) asked to view the photo).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Go Rainey (N. Thomas) and Deniro Muy Grande (J. Taylor) were slow to begin. Count Sylvester (C. Dixon) began awkwardly and lost ground. Once More Brother (K. Pope) raced wide throughout. Deniro Muy Grande over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Near the 600m Ninth Duke (J. Kropp) improved up on to the heels of Amaizemea (J. Piper) and had to be steadied. Ninth Duke was inclined to hang out under pressure in the home straight. When questioned regarding the improved performance of Deniro Muy Grande, trainer J. Holcombe stated that the only explanation he could put forward was that the horse was first up from a spell, had been gelded and was having its first start for the stable. A post-race veterinary examination of Once More Brother failed to reveal any abnormalities. The track was upgraded to Dead 5 after the running of this event.


Race 3:

Class 2 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Silvern; 2nd - Smart Opinion; 3rd - Kalinga Steel

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Co-trainer Jason McLachlan: “That’s the way a short priced favourite is supposed to win, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Don’t you worry though. He’s a good horse. He’s got a few more to come yet.”

Jockey Sean Cormack: “He’s not quite as quick early as he used to be. He takes a little while to get into it, but I always thought he was good enough to dictate the pace. I made him work without overdoing it in the straight (that’s when the gap widened). I was just making certain. I don’t believe in playing games out there. If I’ve got the best horse in the race, I let him win like he should.”

The win lifted jockey Sean Cormack into joint first placing in the Sunshine Coast Jockeys Premiership, a position he now shares with apprentice jockey Jana Piper.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Kalinga Steel (E. Wilkinson) was slow to begin. Week Nights On (J. Taylor) and Ozjuria (G. Butler) bumped on jumping away. The track was upgraded to Dead 4 after the running of this event.


Race 4:

Maiden Handicap - 1600m
1st - Smartazariz; 2nd - Queen Of Bling; 3rd - Abindah

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Debbie Barnard (who scratched the horse from the Gold Coast on Saturday - where it had a number one draw): “That was wonderful. He’s just never had a barrier before.” (In his three previous career starts Smartazariz drew 14, 13 and 13). “Then, when I get a number one draw at the Coast, I was suddenly scared that he might get stuck on the rail, so I chose to come here – for that reason, and the softer going.”

Jockey Dan Griffin (who was riding his sixth winner in the last three days): “He was just too good for them. Once he produced that determined run for the length of the straight he was always going to get the result.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
So Long (P. Hammersley) was slow to begin. Regal Xaar (A. Spinks) stood flat-footed at the start and lost considerable ground. Trainer M. Flanigan was advised that he must obtain a barrier certificate for Regal Xaar before it is permitted to start. Arcangela (R. McMahon) over-raced during the early stages. Approaching the 1200m Smartazariz (D. Griffin) made contact with the running rail of its own accord and became unbalanced.
Concarnie (K. Pope) and Smartazariz over-raced during the early and middle stages. Concarnie and Arcangela both raced wide throughout. Probability (S. Cormack) and Arcangela brushed near the 300m when Smartazariz shifted out. Apprentice C. Dixon, the rider of Classic Hero, was reminded of his obligations regarding the use of his whip on a beaten horse.


Race 5:

Class 1 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Craiglea Symphony; 2nd - Siege; 3rd - Hot Pride

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Chris McIver rode a perfect race. After being slow away at the break, McIver rode with patience, tracking into the race from the rear of the field in the sweep to the turn. On straightening, McIver had Criaglea Symphony poised to strike. When they made their forward move, the duo met with stubborn resistance from the free-running Siege. Halfway up the straight it had become a two-horse race and it was Craiglea Symphony who found the extra required to ease away to score a well judged win. Craiglea Symphony is trained by Natalie Hole.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
She’s A Model (R. Hancock) and Craiglea Symphony (C. McIver) were slow to begin. Craiglea Symphony was inclined to lay in over the final 200m. Methodical (C. Reith) and Franciscan Friar (D. Gill) raced wide throughout the event. Near the 400m Vettori’s Image (Michael Palmer) was steadied when tightened for room between Methodical and Hot Pride (J. Piper) which shifted out. J. Piper was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances in future. A post-race veterinary examination of Continual (K. Pope) failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 6:

Class 4 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Cole Trickle; 2nd - My Counsel; 3rd - Vargas Girl

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ray McCall: “She (jockey Rachel Mason) rated the horse really well out in front. In fact I think she is probably one of the best at doing that. As far as the horse is concerned, all you can be certain of is that he will try and try and try. He’s got limitations but he will not stop trying.”

Jockey Rachel Mason: “He always gives his best, but you have to keep at him. He’s quite happy to take it easy if you let him and he is as happy to take it up again if you ask him. So you have to let him know that he must keep working.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Monchengladbach (S. Cormack) and Jondy Rex (K. Pope) were slow to begin. Silver Razz (R. Hancock) was slow into stride. Chaufuhr (E. Wilkinson) over-raced in the early stages. Vargas Girl (J. Piper) raced wide throughout the event. My Counsel (J. Bowditch) shifted out under pressure near the 300m, forcing Vargas Girl wider on the track. Apprentice J. Piper was stood down by the Club doctor following her ride in this event.


Race 7:

Open Handicap - 1300m
1st - Messiaen; 2nd - Grab The Phone; 3rd - Onalar

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ray McCall: “He’s still going strong as a nine-year-old. He needs a little help now, that why we took some kilos off with the claim, but he is as honest as ever and he does himself proud. We’ve still got the mother (Grand Shower) in the paddock at home. Grand Shower has had nine runners for nine winners. To have two of them win on the same day is really good.”

Grand Shower is the dam of both of the McCall trained race to race winners, Cole Trickle and Messiaen. Both runners, who have now taken their combined stake earnings to a little under $700 000, are owned by the McCall family.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As A. Badger was indisposed, J. Piper was substituted as the rider of Likazyrtec. After being stood down by the Club doctor, J. Piper was replaced on Likazyrtec by C. Dixon. Set Alight (J. Taylor) over-raced in the early and middle stages of the event.


Race 8:

Class 4 Handicap - 1000m
1st - Onasong; 2nd - The Fifer; 3rd - Hurricaneprince

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Jeremy Vaughan trained Onasong carried too much ammunition for his rivals in the final event on the card. Racing fresh after a spell, the mare was produced at the right time by Nathan Thomas and kicked away with meaning to score the second win of her career.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
See Me Thru (M. Speers) and Hunter Dane (S. Mossman), which both became fractious in the barriers, were removed from the barriers, examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start. A Scarletpimpernel (K. Pope) began very awkwardly, shifted out and made heavy contact with Miss Pierce (A. Erhart), which in turn shifted out and bumped Onasong (N. Thomas). Hunter Dane and Hurricaneprince (J. Byrne) bumped on jumping away. Shortly after the start One Fuhr The Money (A. Spinks) and See Me Thru bumped. The Fifer (C. Dixon), Telbron Gold (M. Wood), Hunter Dane and See Me Thru raced wide throughout. A Scarletpimpernel raced greenly throughout the event, placing its rider at a disadvantage. Telbron Gold was inclined to lay out under pressure in the home straight. A Scarletpimpernel was inclined to lay out under pressure from the 300m.
A post-race veterinary examination of A Scarletpimpernel revealed a haematoma on the nearside rump and that the colt had lost its off hind plate in running.