DOOMBEN REVIEW (SAT, DEC 20)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Saturday, December 20.

Race 1:

1MW Handicap - 1350m
1st - Andamon; 2nd - Feline Flyer; 3rd - Three Chances

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Olivia Cairns: “The 1350m is probably his optimum distance. Danny (Craven) thinks he’ll go a bit further, but he does need to have speed in his races to do his best and I don’t think he’ll necessarily get that if he stepped up to a mile. The smaller field also helped him today. He normally just gives them too much start and in the smaller field there was less runners to go around which set him up nicely. He has lovely horse to train. Never causes any trouble in the stable. I wish I had ten of them like that.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Andamon): 6.00 out to 8.00.
Favourite (Feline Flyer): 1.90 out to 2.20. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Andamon (D. Craven) was slow to begin. Demolir (J. Holder), which was over-racing, shifted out off the heels of Feline Flyer (D. Griffin) passing the 1100m and then was obliged to race three wide until passing the 800m.
Catchit (G. Colless) laid out from the 800m until shortly after straightening. Soon after straightening, Feline Flyer commenced to lay in. Approaching the 100m, Demolir was obliged to race in restricted room between Three Chances (A. Taylor) and Feline Flyer, which continued to lay in. Near the 20m, Demolir was inconvenienced as a result of further tightening between Three Chances, which shifted out slightly, and Feline Flyer. The club's veterinary surgeon reported that Andamon had bled from one nostril during the event. Trainer O. Cairns was advised that the gelding must perform a 1000m gallop before stewards prior to its next race start.
Following the race, jockey J. Holder advised stewards that he had some difficulty controlling Demolir at stages during the race. A post-race veterinary examination of Demolir revealed the gelding to have an ulcer in the commisure of its mouth on the off side. Trainer R. Bradshaw's representative, Mr C. Partington, was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Demolir, and that the gelding must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start.


Race 2:

QTIS 2yo Handicap - 1110m
1st - Racing Pagasus; 2nd - First Option; 3rd - Craiglea Blondie

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “Well she’s in the Millions now. She’s showed she can get going and be handy and we know she’s got a bit of stamina. I think that’s an ideal combination for the Millions. She’s doing everything asked of her and she’s improving all the time. I think she’ll be even better when placed under pressure. I have no doubt she’ll find extra if pushed.”

Jockey Danny Craven (who, immediately after the race, was confirmed as the rider for Racing Pegasus in the MM): “Everything’s still new to her. She’s green. She is still adapting to racing ... but she is an intelligent horse who will keep improving. I gave her a dig and she went to the lead. The other one (Devils Angel) came with me and if that one had pushed on I would have pulled my one back to a trot, but it didn’t turn out that way. I had to push her on the way to the line just to get her attention because she wasn’t concentrating, but mate he won real easy.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Racing Pegasus): 1.30 in to 1.26.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Valvetron (K. Wharton) was slow to begin. Dramatising (A. Spinks) jumped away awkwardly and made heavy contact with Craiglea Blondie (J. Bowditch). La Vie Esprit (A. Pattillo) was momentarily crowded on jumping away between Pinpoint Accuracy (Michael Palmer) and Ponchito (K. Forrester), which shifted in. La Vie Esprit raced ungenerously in the early stages. For some distance shortly after straightening, Pinpoint Accuracy was inclined to lay in. First Lieutenant (J. Holder) and Ponchito (K. Forrester) raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Devils Angel revealed the filly to be tied up behind.


Race 3:

QTIS Class 6 3yo & Up Handicap - 1615m
1st - Daedalus; 2nd - Our Lukas; 3rd - Hunters Moon

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gillian Heinrich: “That’s the way he has to do it. He is an ‘out and go’ type of horse. If he can’t get to the lead, he gets a bit funny about it. He races a bit awkwardly. If he can dominate, he’s right. That why I thought his last run was much better than it looked (when fourth to Our Lukas). He couldn’t get things his own way, and so wasn’t comfortable, yet still ran a creditable fourth. Today he was allowed to dominate ... and that was it.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Daedalus): 3.00 in to 2.80.
Favourite (Our Lukas): 2.50 out to 2.60. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start, Humma (S. Scriven) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Barclays (J. Taylor), which shifted in. Rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight, Pietro Vannucci (K. Wharton) was held up for clear running behind Hunters Moon (Matthew Palmer). Following this event, the track rating was upgraded to a Good 2.


Race 4:

Open Handicap - 2020m
1st - Pentacity; 2nd - Skyleda; 3rd - Sir Sensible

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy (who saddled the quinella): “Her problem has been that she is a probably really a Class 2 horse, but ever since she won that big race at the coast a year ago (the Gold Coast Bracelet on MM day) she’s effectively been treated as an open company horse. She’d only won two races before this. She has been in under sufferance because of that, but seldom runs a bad race. She’s finished second to Heavenly Glow along the way, so her record is pretty credible. So we just had to find the right race for her and thankfully this proved to be it.”

Apprentice jockey Matthew Palmer: “Yeah, she was a lot closer this time but I never pushed her to get position. She just bounded out and landed there and there was little speed in the race so I let her race where she wanted to be. She’s is the type of horse that puts her best foot forward every step of the way. She always gives one hundred percent.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pentacity): 4.40 out to 5.00.
Favourite (On The Up): 4.00 in to 3.50. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1400m, Cedar Manor (D. Coleman), which was over-racing, improved up on to the heels of Pentacity (Matthew Palmer) and had to be steadied. Passing the 200m, Cedar Manor had to be checked when attempting a narrow run inside of Olympic Time (J. Taylor), which was taken in slightly by On The Up (S. Scriven). Olympic Time then had difficulty obtaining clear running for the remainder of the event. Nearing the winning post, Bell Academy (R. McMahon) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Sir Sensible (A. Pattillo) and Skyleda, which shifted out around the heels of Pentacity. S. Galloway, rider of Skyleda, was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. The club's veterinary surgeon reported that Cedar Manor pulled up lame in the near fore fetlock. On return to scale, On The Up trod on jockey S. Scriven's foot. S. Scriven was cleared by the club's doctor to fulfil his remaining engagements. Stewards inquired into Scriven's actions whereby his arm forcibly made contact with On The Up. After taking into account all the circumstances, stewards severely admonished jockey Scriven for his actions.


Race 5:

QTIS 3yo Handicap - 2020m
1st Gracesynd; 2nd - A Little Knowledge; 3rd - Levi's Bid

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Carolyn Halliday: “That’s the way she needs to run. She needs to be up with the speed.”

Apprentice jockey Amy Taylor: “Last time at Ipswich she got back and ran a bit of a stop-start affair. Still got second behind a horse that won again next time out (Oscar The Great). This time we chose to go forward. One went around us and set it up beautifully for us.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Gracesynd): 10.00 steady.
Favourite (Tunes Of Gold): 3.60 in to 3.40 out to 3.50. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tambo Tiger was declared a late scratching at 2.59 pm on veterinary advice after being kicked by another runner when proceeding to the barriers. The club's veterinary surgeon reported that the gelding was sore in the near shoulder.
Three Tales (A. Spinks) raced wide from the start until near 900m. Gracesynd (A. Taylor) raced wide in the early stages. Near the 1100m, Queen Of Bling (J. Bowditch) improved up on to the heels of Soutane (Matthew Palmer) and had to be steadied. Smart ‘N’ Crafty (E. Wilkinson), which was following, had to be checked in consequence.
S. Seamer, rider of Delago Pilli, was charged with careless riding, in that he allowed his mount to shift in nearing the winning post when insufficiently clear of Soutane, which shifted in, tightening the running of Cha Cha Man (R. Wiggins). In this incident, Soutane had to be checked and lost its position. After hearing submissions from S. Seamer, stewards did not sustain the charge after they found that Soutane may have overreacted and then commenced to over-race. Queen Of Bling, Tunes Of Gold and Smart ‘N’ Crafty, which were following, were hampered to varying degrees in this incident.
When questioned regarding the performance of Tunes Of Gold, J. Holder stated from the wide alley he had no option but to take up a rearward position closer to the fence. He further added that due to the slow tempo of the race he was obliged to ask the filly for an effort from the 600m and, in his opinion, Tunes Of Gold only ran on fairly. Trainer Mr J. Wallace stated that although disappointed with the filly's performance today, the tempo of the race may not have suited Tunes Of Gold. Mr Wallace undertook to advise stewards of any abnormality which may come to light with Tunes Of Gold which may have had a bearing on today's performance.
Jockey E. Wilkinson was questioned regarding the performance of Smart ‘N’ Crafty. He stated that the gelding was not suited to the slow tempo of today's race, which resulted in Smart ‘N’ Crafty over-racing in certain sections.


Race 6:

Open Handicap - 1010m
1st - Azzaland; 2nd - Nessuno; 3rd - Sir Breakfast

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Richie Stephenson: “When the fields came out I looked at the draw and thought, ‘God, he can’t win from there.’ But we had to give it a go. Then when he couldn’t get in and was forced even wider approaching the turn I thought, ‘he can’t win from there.’ But this is racing and he just kept coming and kept fighting all the way. It was a tremendous win.”

Jockey Garry Baker: “He’s got the speed to get up there. Equally important is the fact that he has the ability to relax when he gets a position. Because he was so relaxed, I didn’t want to rush him at all. I preferred to let him slide until we had to go flat out and then he was full of fight.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Azzaland): 3.50 in to 3.30 out to 3.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Instructed was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon prior to the race and cleared to start. Instructed (D. Coleman) blundered on jumping away. Sequallan (B. Evans) was a little slow to begin. Shortly after the start, Leather (K. Pope) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Red Hot Pistol (Michael Palmer) and Myndos (Matthew Palmer), which was taken in slightly by Another Cat (A. Taylor). Sequallan (B. Evans) laid in under pressure in the straight. Sequablue (D. Craven) and Vive Le Roi (R. Wiggins) raced wide throughout.


Race 7:

City Pacific Finance Doomben Stakes Handicap - 1350m
1st - Barlinnie; 2nd - Forestreno; 3rd - Mitanni

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Bailey: “He was purchased in May from the Peter Moody stable with the purpose of being aimed at the Summer Triple Crown. The aim was to run him, but not make excessive demands on him in the George Moore earlier in the month. You must remember that the George Moore was his first start in more than seven months, which is a fair time off. The 1200m there did prove to be a bit sharp for him, but the whole idea was not to rush him unnecessarily, but rather to let him make natural progression, which he is doing. And the same policy applied going into this start. It’s really great to get the result, and it showed what a good horse he is, but we still left him with something to come so he will be competitive when he backs up in the Bernborough next week.”

Jockey Jason Holder: “The distance helped him this time and he just turned in an ultra-competitive performance. It was a tough race and he had to show what he was worth to win it.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Barlinnie): 8.00 out to 9.00.
Favourite (Albert The Fat): 3.00 in to 2.60. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Nellie Got there was declared a late scratching at 8.05 pm. Trainers B and J McLachlan were fined $200 for failing to scratch the gelding by the prescribed time. Trainer B. Baldwin was fined $50 for presenting Rightson without a tongue-tie. Near the 1100m, Cocktail Supreme (B. Pengelly) improved up on to the heels of Mitanni (S. Galloway) and had to be steadied. Upilio (K. Wharton) over-raced in the early and middle stages. Passing the 1100m, Rightson (D. Craven), which was over-racing, had to be steadied off the heels of Sequestrate (S. Seamer). Near the 1050m, Sequestrate had to be checked when tightened for room between Friendly Embrace (K. Yoshida) and Albert The Fat (A. Pattillo), which when over-racing shifted in off the heels of Daunting Lad (S. Scriven). Albert The Fat then over-raced for a short distance. Sequestrate was forced wider around the home turn by Friendly Embrace, which shifted out. Fulmonti (R. McMahon) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. For the length of the straight, Friendly Embrace shifted out and bumped Sequestrate on a number of occasions. K. Yoshida, rider of Friendly Embrace, was reprimanded and advised to stop riding and straighten his mounts in similar circumstances. Daunting Lad, Albert The Fat, Sequestrate and Rightson raced wide throughout.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Charming Rogue, G. Colless stated that horse travelled well throughout, however when he shifted out to improve near the 500m, the gelding failed to respond to his riding. He further added that, in his opinon, the Charming Rogue raced like a tired horse. Trainer A. Bailey was unable to offer any explanation for the horse's performance and advised that Charming Rogue would now be sent for an immediate spell. A post-race veterinary examination of Charming Rogue revealed the horse to be sore in the near hind leg.


Race 8:

Class 6 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Mr Slick; 2nd - Firedrake; 3rd - Viking Storm

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Leon Morton: “I said to the kid that there would be plenty of speed on in the race so he must not panic. My only worry was that he might get boxed in, but once he brought him to the outside I knew he would get right into it. One of the horse’s strong points is his competitive spirit. He loves a fight and he was happy to get involved when the pressure was on.”

Apprentice jockey Luke Dittman: “It’s my first Saturday win with my dad in the stands so it was good. Yeah, we just sat off the speed and when he took it up he settled things fairly quickly. It was another good win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Mr Slick): 1.50 in to 1.30.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mr Slick (L.Dittman) was tightened for room on jumping away between Stature (J. Taylor) and Viking Storm (J. Holder), both of which shifted ground. Simplex (B. Pengelly), which was a little slow to begin, shifted inwards at the start, making contact with the hind quarters of Ulladulla (A. Spinks). Simplex over-raced in the early stages and near the 800m had to be steadied off the heels of Santiara (J. Bowditch). Near the 800m, Mr Slick (L. Dittman) had to be steadied off the heels of Eleventh Command (D. Craven). Santiara, which was following, also had to be steadied in consequence. Eleventh Command raced wide in the middle stages. Near the 200m, Eleventh Command was momentarily inconvenienced by Prince Lionheart (K. Wharton), which shifted out to improve. On the winning post, Simplex had to be steadied off the heels of Santiara, which was taken out slightly by Viking Storm (J. Holder). Ulladulla raced wide throughout.