DOOMBEN REVIEW (WED, DEC 10)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Wednesday, December 10.

Race 1:

Maiden Plate - 2020m
1st - Jouer Le Jeu; 2nd - Cinquacasino; 3rd - Ella Cinders

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Smith: “She’s a Montjeu mare. Most Montjeu’s take time to settle into the game. Then one day they wake up and go well. I’ve only had her for two runs – the second placing and this win, so we are moving in the right direction. I’m still going to take my time with her. She’ll go through the grades. It will be one more run this time around and then she’ll go for a spell.
“She’s out of a Group 1 winning mare (Olga’s Pal). I believe she is a good staying prospect and that she has the potential to develop into a good handicap mare. I think she can win a race like the Ipswich Cup come Carnival time.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
C. McIver was reprimanded for failing to arrive on course by the prescribed time to fulfil his engagement on Biancool. Jouer Le Jeu (E. Wilkinson) over-raced on the heels of Born To Party (C. Small) in the early stages.
Passing the 1800m, Born To Party commenced to over-race on the heels of Mondo Rocks (M. Hellyer) and near the 1400m had to be steadied off that horse's heels. Born To Party continued to over-race and near the 1200m had to be checked off the heels of All The Jays (D. Griffin). At the 1200m, Tyrconnell improved up on to the heels of Shoja and had to be steadied. Tyrconnell then shifted out and was obliged to race wide for the majority of the event. Biancool and Shoja raced wide in the early stages. When steadied passing the 1200m, Conquacasino shifted out and was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the event. Jouer Le Jeu (E. Wilkinson) shifted ground outwards under pressure over the concluding stages.


Race 2:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1350m
1st - Mr Orient; 2nd - Commanche Warrior; 3rd - Saint Minerva

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Balzen: “He was back in Maiden company here after racing in 3yo handicaps, so he was entitled to win. He is the best track-worker I’ve got, but so far he hasn’t put it all together in a race. Even today. There is more to come than that. He almost looked like he was looking for more ground. We’ll probably go back to one of those 3yo races now. Maybe over 1500m.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “He’s been running against stronger opposition than this for some time. He was back in a Maiden here and it was a different story. They did steady the pace in the middle part, so I had to be careful about timing my run. I had to let him go a bit earlier than I might otherwise have done so that I would be in a position to challenge when I wanted to. He worked home beautifully. Hit the line hard liked we hoped he would. Good win.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As G. Colless was to be overweight on Saint Minerva, She’s A Mountain (Race 7) and Aqua Calda (Race 8), riding changes were made as per the Stewards Summary Sheet. G. Colless was fined the sum of $300.
Commanche Warrior (S. Scriven) jumped away awkwardly. Prom Knight (S. Seamer), which jumped away awkwardly, shifted out and bumped Flash Romeo (E. Wilkinson). Approaching the 800m, Saint Minerva (D. Griffin), which was racing ungenerously, had to be momentarily steadied off the heels of Mr Orient (J. Taylor).


Race 3:

Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Steady Poplar; 2nd - Zeljko; 3rd - Frozone

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steele Ryan: “He had a wind problem. He had the operation. The operation was a success. In his last two or three runs he was under duress because of the wind problem that he had. He had a few issues before that as well. When I was suspended he went to race for Guy Walter. He was still a colt then but Guy said he had become a really unruly sort, so we cut him. So I got him back as a gelding and not long afterward that we discovered the wind problem, so we had to start all over again. He is a 5yo and he’s only had seven runs because of the issues he’s had. He’s right now and you can see the difference.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Passing the 900m, A Pair Of Diamonds (C. McIver) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Circumnavigate (T. Pannell), which shifted in away from Zeljko (A. Coome). Near the 800m, A Pair Of Diamonds again had to be checked when tightened for room by Cheque For Freedom (K. Forrester), which laid in despite the efforts of its rider. Approaching the 200m, Calypso Moon (Matthew Palmer) was momentarily inconvenienced between Circumnavigate (T. Pannell) and Steady Poplar (J. Bowditch), which shifted in slightly. Near the 100m, A Pair Of Diamonds (C. McIver) improved up on to the heels of Circumnavigate (T. Pannell) and was obliged to shift out.


Race 4:

F&M Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Guissepino; 2nd - Queen Of Asia; 3rd - Acquired

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “She’s won three out of the five starts she’s had for me. She does seem to be getting better and better. She relaxes best when she is allowed to race up with the speed so the 1000m to 1200m trips suit her very well at the moment. You can’t get carried away about her future, but it’s very encouraging the way she is going. She has taken her steps through the grades very well.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “There’s is a lot of potential there. She is just not quite certain what she is doing yet.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 100m, Swiss Alps (D. Griffin) was momentarily impeded by Queen Of Asia (Matthew Palmer), which shifted out. Guissepino (B. Pengelly) was inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination of Daphne Ellen revealed the mare to have sustained a laceration to the inside of the near-fore pastern. The club's veterinary surgeon also reported that Ashita was restricted in its action on the off-hind leg. Trainer B. Dodson was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Ashita prior to its next race start.


Race 5:

Class 4 Handicap - 1350m
1st - Havayarn; 2nd - Kings Artist; 3rd - Matzumi

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Bailey: “I’m happy with that as a first-up result, but he took all day to win the race didn’t he? He really took a long time to settle the issue.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “He was just a bit fresh and a bit immature. He might have baulked slightly when going past the leader, who was running around a bit, but that didn’t really bother him. As I said, it was more the fact that he was a bit too fresh and immature that made it look like a bit of a struggle. Still got the win though.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Passing the 1000m, when attempting to be restrained, Ustino A Girl got its head in the air and over-raced for a short distance. Near the 200m, Ustino A Girl shifted out abruptly and again a short distance later Ustino A Girl shifted ground under pressure.
Stewards questioned apprentice L.Dittman regarding the riding tactics adopted on Ustino A Girl. L. Dittman stated that after being caught 3 wide in the early stages he elected to push forward to obtain a position closer to the rail. He further added that passing the 1000m he obtained a position one off outside the leader Askew, however when being restrained the mare got its head in the air and commenced to over-race. He explained that Ustino A Girl over-raced until such time as he had taken a position slightly forward and felt his best option was to allow Ustino A Girl to relax rather than continue to restrain the mare. L. Dittman also added that he then allowed the mare to relax until near the home turn. Trainer N. McBurney stated that the connections had instructed apprentice Dittman to take a sit on the mare to allow her to run out the distance of today's event as she was stepping up to 1350m for the first time. Mr McBurney further stated after viewing the film that he believed apprentice Dittman was a victim of circumstances, in that after improving forward to take up a position, Ustino A Girl then over-raced and left apprentice Dittman with little options. Stewards noted the explanations.


Race 6:

Class 5 Handicap - 1615m
1st - Pyramids; 2nd - Humma; 3rd - Moonlight Lily

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Matthew Dunn (stable foreman for Gerald Ryan at Murwillumbah): “This is the stable’s second city win since setting up at Murwillumbah. Pyramids won here previously. Pyramids is actually a good example of the benefits that some horses can gain by being at Murwillumbah as opposed to Sydney. His sire is Anabaa. The Anabaa breed ... you know, they train off so quickly, more so mentally than physically. For that reason Pyramids is probably in exactly the right place for him at this time. With the Anabaa breed you have got to stimulate the mind and we’ve got so many more options to do that up here, swimming, jumping and the like. Pyramids is very consistent. He has only won two midweek meetings since being relocated up here, but he is going well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
One For The Road raced wide in the early and middle stages. Rounding the 1200m turn, Life’s Short (J. Bowditch) shifted out off the heels of Fools Rush In (R. Wiggins) and in doing so forced Gather (W. Clasohm) 3 wide. Near the 500m, Magique Mine (C. Whiteley) shifted out and in doing so made contact with Moonlight Lily (R. Goltz). Passing the 50m, Magique Mine and Moonlight Lily were momentarily placed in restricted room between Pyramids (Mathew Palmer) and Humma (S. Scriven), which shifted in.
Stewards opened an inquiry into the handling of Gather. After taking initial evidence, the inquiry was adjourned to a date and time to be fixed. Post-race veterinary examination of Gather failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Stewards questioned J. Bowditch regarding his riding of Life’s Short, in particular between the 1200m and home turn. J. Bowditch stated that approaching the first turn, Life’s Short commenced to over-race on the heels of Fools Rush In (R. Wiggins), and he elected to allow the horse to stride forward and take up a position outside Fools Rush In. He further added he was content to maintain this position for the remainder of the event, however Gather continued to race in a 3-wide position outside of Fools Rush In, and passing the 800m he was obliged to place his mount under pressure to hold its position. The explanation was noted. A post-race veterinary examination of Gather failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 7:

Class 5 Handicap - 1110m
1st - Mr Slick; 2nd - The Boxer; 3rd - Stature

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Leon Morton: “I didn’t want to sound overconfident beforehand, but you had to think that if you rate it a chance in a Carnival race then you got to win this ... and I rate him that chance. I aim to take him to the BMW Magic Millions Cup in January. He’ll have one run before that which I imagine he will have to win to get into that race, which is over 1400m on his home track. After that we’ll turn him out, give him some time off, and then bring him back for out Winter Carnival.
“He is bred to go further and that might well end up being the case. At the moment though, my firm opinion is that he is too big and solid for a mile. I think 1400m is his distance. You know, if he was with a big stable, the ones who get all the accolades, he would be spoken about as being the next star. He’s so good and so consistent. He has yet to finish out of the first three.
“He’s an easy horse to train now, but that was not always the case. Earlier in his career he was a real problem. I couldn’t get him on to the track. I couldn’t get work riders for him. But it was purely a learning and patience game. I was just patient with him and finally we turned things around. Yeah, now he’s a pleasure to train.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1000m, Hail Free (B. Pengelly) shifted in and bumped the hind quarters of Consider Yourself (M. Morris). Passing the 800m, Stature (J. Taylor), which was over-racing, improved to the inside of Hail Free (B Pengelly) and as a result had to be checked when tightened for room between She’s A Mountain (R. McMahon) and Hail Free, which shifted in slightly. Hail Free shifted out rounding the home turn and bumped The Boxer (O. Turpin). The Boxer (O. Turpin), Decerto (Mathew Palmer) and Lachlan Valley (M. Paget) raced wide throughout.


Race 8:

CG&E Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Ready To Rise; 2nd - Kayowed; 3rd - Kneel And Raise

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Jason Holder: “They wanted me to be closer than I was in the early part, but the wide draw made it difficult. I couldn’t get where we planned to be, so I decided to back off and let him race where he felt comfortable. Then in the straight there was pressure on all sides, but he just kept kicking and kicking. He was really impressive the way he stuck to his guns. He could easily have folded and nobody would have thought any less of him, given the circumstances. I thought it was a good win.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start, Media Fund (S. Galloway) and Kayowed (J. Taylor) were obliged to race in restricted room between Aqua Calda (R. Wiggins) and Scudder, which shifted in slightly. Near the 900m, Highland Storm (K. Wharton) and Aqua Calda (R. Wiggins) were obliged to race in restricted room to the inside of Devils Ransom (M. Morris), which shifted in slightly. Kneel And Raise (R. Goltz) raced wide in the early stages. Approaching the 400m, Media Fund had to be steadied when attempting to improve between Devils Ransom and Scudder where there was doubtful room. In the early stages of the straight, Aqua Calda (R. Wiggins) had difficulty obtaining clear running. Scudder and Edward Bear raced wide throughout.