SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, NOV 2)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, November 2.

Race 1:

Class 5 Handicap - 1800m
1st - My Almanac; 2nd - California Express; 3rd - Winmara

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Jones: “He’s a long striding stayer who will kick late. If they allow him a soft lead like that they must take the consequences.”

Jockey Rachel Mason: “I took him out in front but, because of the small field, the pace I set was a bit slower than I normally would. If something had taken me on I would have quickened up, but they left me alone and I took advantage of that. I just saved him as long as I could and then started to push about the 700m because he’s a horse that needs to get going early – and it paid off.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stewards questioned apprentice M. Hughes, the rider of La Marianne, as to why he had not allowed his mount to stride forward in the middle stages and apply more pressure to the leader My Almanac (R. Mason) when it had become apparent that that horse had slowed the pace of the race considerably. M. Hughes stated that La Marianne was only having its second start over 1800m and with the blinkers on today felt that, whilst the horse had over-raced in the early stages, it was best to give the mare an opportunity to settle as to afford it every chance to run the distance out. He added that he was able to make ground on the leader approaching the 450m and upon straightening was within a length of My Almanac. M. Hughes further added that La Marianne failed to respond to his riding as anticipated in the straight and in his opinion was better suited to shorter distances.


Race 2:

Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Tanzill; 2nd - Moubassin; 3rd - Go Rainey

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Lakey: “He’s got a bad constitution. He is a finicky eater. He always appears stressed and fired up. That’s him though. It’s got nothing to do with race-day. He’s the same at track-work. A friend of mine saw him in the ring and asked how anybody could put money on him.
“He got away with it today, but it will cost him somewhere along the way. It might even stop him. He can improve I suppose. In fact he will have to if he is going to make it much further.”

Jockey Tony Pattillo: “He gives the impression that he could go on with it. He gives you a nice feel. But he does need to get his brain right first. He’s got plenty to work out.”

Tanzill was having his third start. It was his first run since being gelded.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
We’re All In It (R. Wiggins) was slow to begin. Chintz (C. Kearney) jumped away awkwardly. Moubassin (S. Cormack) shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages.


Race 3:

F&M Class 1 Handicap - 1400m
1st - My Counsel; 2nd - Craiglea Symphony; 3rd - Zigalong

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Smith originally wanted to wait until Melbourne Cup day to race this horse. A change of plan and the mare suddenly has two wins to her credit before the Cup was run. We’ve been talking for weeks about Smith’s telling strike rate this season, and we are talking about it because it has become something of a constant from one meeting to another . As if that fact needed any emphasis, Smith struck again at Eagle Farm at the next meeting, this time with Malandrina on Melbourne Cup day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gracemere (M. Heagney) had to be steadied shortly after the start when tightened for room between Zigalong (D. Craven) and Xaar Crazy (K. Wharton), which shifted in. Passing the 800m Palace Party (J. Wood) was tightened for room by Craiglea Symphony (A. Badger), which had commenced to over-race and shifted in when being restrained. A short distance later Craiglea Symphony, which continued to over-race, shifted out and made contact with Body Double (A. Pattillo). Craiglea Symphony and Gracemere were inclined to lay in when placed under pressure in the home straight.


Race 4:

C,G & E Class 1 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Octahedron; 2nd - Siege; 3rd - Swift Leo

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Geoff Burns: “We bought him as an unraced three-year-old from New Zealand. He showed ability from the start and he has been a pleasure to train. Look at him. He’s so calm. Just a lovely horse. So far, he doesn’t know how to run a bad race. We are just slowly building him up in distance. He’ll get over ground for sure.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ready To Rise (S. Cormack) raced three wide throughout. J. Piper, the rider of Carry On Kenzie, was reprimanded under AR. 137(a) for allowing her mount to shift in near the 650m resulting in Swift Leo (R. McMahon) having to be steadied. Octahedron (B. Pengelly) laid in under pressure over the concluding stages of the event. A post-race veterinary examination of Carry On Kenzie (J. Piper) failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 5:

4yo and up Maiden Handicap - 1600m
1st - Stiletto Heels; 2nd - Red Treasure; 3rd - Probability

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Tony Pattillo (who secured a double with this win to take the day’s riding honours): “I’ve ridden him before and had some luck on him. We ran into a couple of places. He probably should have got a result before this but at least he rectified that today. I was very happy to come here today. I only had four rides, but it was a good book of rides and to get two winners is quite satisfying.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer T. Gillespie was fined $100 under AR. 140A for presenting Cinquacasino to race with incorrect gear. J. Piper was fined $200 under AR. 92(12) for failing to claim her full allowance on Shreps. Tyrconnell (P. Wolfgram) and The Traps Are Set (M. Heagney) over-raced in the early and middle stages. Leaving the 1200m Shreps (J. Piper), which had commenced to over-race, shifted out when being restrained taking Smartazariz (R. Wiggins) wider on the track. Cinquacasino, Smartazariz and All The Jays (K. Forrester) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 6:

Class 4 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Eleventh Command; 2nd – Chaufuhr; 3rd - Vargas Girl

WINNER FEEDBACK:
This race provided a stirring, stride for stride battle for the honours between the Chris Dawson trained Eleventh Command and the Bruce McLachlan trained Chaufuhr, with the former prevailing by a narrow margin. Eleventh Command, who was ridden with winning determination by Kelvin Wharton, had to fight every inch of the way to earn the fifth win of his career.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Chaufuhr (S. Cormack) over-raced for a short distance near the 800m. Luna Pride (S. Bogenhuber) lost its near-side fore plate in running.


Race 7:

Class 2 Handicap - 1200m
1st – Geebeetee; 2nd - Eye Eye Silver; 3rd - Cuban Dancer

WINNER FEEDBACK:
After being beaten by narrow margins in two earlier races the Bruce McLachlan / Sean Cormack combination made no mistake in the last race when Geebeetee returned to his best form in his second run back from a spell to earn the third win of his career.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As B. Pengelly was to be overweight, C. Reith was substituted as the rider of Cuban Dancer. B. Pengelly was fined $200 under AR. 120(b). Berani Merah Jambu (J. Wood) jumped away awkwardly and lost considerable ground. On Ice (K. Wharton) and Fielding (A. Merritt) raced wide for the majority of the event. Goyousoandso (N. Thomas) over-raced for a short distance leaving the 900m. When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Guissepino jockey R. Wiggins stated that the mare travelled well during the event, however failed to stretch out when placed under pressure. R. Wiggins was of the opinion that the mare appreciates more give in the ground than today's surface. A post-race veterinary examination of Guissepino failed to reveal any abnormalities. On Ice (K. Wharton) lost its near-side hind plate in running.