EAGLE FARM REVIEW (SAT, JAN 17)

A review of the meeting held at Eagle Farm on Saturday, January 17.

STEWARDS SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT EXTRACT:
Apprentice A. Taylor, who was injured at trackwork this morning, was examined by the club's doctor and cleared to fulfil her engagements today.


Race 1:

2yo Handicap - 1000m
1st - Kiss Me Katy; 2nd - Funtantes; 3rd - Temple Of Boom

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steven O’dea: “I didn’t want her to push forward to hard and it ended up well as she got a nice run behind the leaders. Ideally that was what I wanted for her first-up. I didn’t want her to have to push forward. We’ll probably stay here until the end of February. There are two-year-old races every week so we can pick and choose as it suits us.”

Jockey Ivo Fry: “Well originally we thought Temple Of Boom would probably lead. We thought the best spot to be would be just outside his hind-quarters, but with two-year-old races you can never really predict what is going to happen anyway. There was a bit more pace inside me I thought to begin with. She didn’t quite show as much pace as she did in Townsville (when winning on her debut). We’ve done a few different things with her work ... that type of thing, but I ended up getting in behind them, just off the fence which was a good spot to be in anyway. Then getting to the corner she started travelling up pretty well. I thought getting to the 300m I was always going to win the race, but I thought I was going to win the race easier than she did. The horse that run second (Funtantes) kept going with her and that sort of made us work a bit. But we got there in the end.”

Kiss Me Katy was the first runner in Brisbane for the trainer and the first ride in Brisbane for the jockey. Both are based in Townsville. The duo would later come close to maintaining their perfect record when Go Cart finished second in the seventh race on the card.

Tony Gollan (trainer of beaten favourite, Temple Of Boom): “First thoughts on the run. We used him fairly well ... but, you know he just didn’t have the acceleration he had the other day on a very firm track here today. I’m not saying he can’t handle a firm track and I certainly believe he is as good on top of the ground as he is in the wet. Matty (Palmer) said he wanted to hang a little bit going into the corner today and that’s not like him. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t pull up a bit shin-sore.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Kiss Me Katie): 3.00 in to 2.90.
Favourite (Temple Of Boom): 2.30 out to 2.40. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Apprentice B. Evans was fined $100 for failing to claim his full allowance on Dorothy. Futantes (J. Bowditch) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with Dorothy (B. Evans). Red Dash (R. McMahon) was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, Diehard Trying (E. Wilkinson) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Sniplaz (C. McIver) and Dorothy, which shifted out. Near the 800m, Kiss Me Katie (I. Fry) blundered. Sniplaz and Kiss Me Katie raced wide throughout. A post race veterinary examination of Excite And Excel revealed the filly had sustained a laceration to the near fore canon.


Race 2:

Open Handicap - 1800mm
1st - Doug's Mate; 2nd - Pentacity; 3rd - Onalar

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Nolan: “She has been a bit down on her form but Danny Craven rode her the other day at the coast and he said we should give her another go on the top of the ground. So we came here today. Danny already had a ride so we put Amy (Taylor) on it. She rode it a treat. Whether it’s just taken a few runs to get a bit fitter, we don’t know. We’ve been tossing up the idea about selling her. You know what happens when you talk about selling a horse. They come out and win. She just loves Eagle Farm and she loves the ground nice and hard with a bit of pace on. Amy did well to ride her so well, particularly after the mishap she had this morning.”

Apprentice jockey Amy Taylor: “Yeah, I got kicked by a horse this morning at trackwork. They thought it had broken my leg. As soon as they told me my leg wasn’t broken I said, ‘put some ice on it.’ I’ve got a few stitches in about an inch deep cut and my leg is still pretty fat. But I wasn’t going to miss out. There was a bit of speed from Ostras and she just sat on the fence real nice. I didn’t want to get back too far so I just kept her in touch today and she responded much better than she has been.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Doug’s Mate): 6.00 out to 6.50.
Favourite (Onalar): 4.00 in to 3.10. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Winsome Loot (C. McIver) was caught wide in the early stages. Near the 1100m, On The Up (J. Bowditch) improved up on to the heels of Skyleda (S. Galloway) and had to be steadied. Passing the 500m, Doug’s Mate (A. Taylor) was disappointed for a run between King Latarmiss (M. Hughes) and Onalar (O. Turpin) and had to be steadied. As a result, Doug’s Mate shifted in momentarily tightening On The Up. Skyleda (S. Galloway) laid out under pressure over the concluding stages. King Latarmiss (M. Hughes) raced wide throughout. Dream Gal lost its off-hind plate in running.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Hunters Moon, apprentice M. Palmer stated that the gelding travelled well in the early stages and he was able to obtain a position on the back of Pentacity to cart him into the race, however Hunters Moon was under pressure from the 600m. He further added that, in his opinion, the horse performs better on rain affected tracks. A post race veterinary examination of Hunters Moon failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 3:

1MW Handicap - 1400m
1st - Reincarnation; 2nd - Pyramids; 3rd - Margy Magic

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Andrew Spinks: “The rails are the shortest way around. There wasn’t much ... well there was enough room there and he never hesitated but, you know, most horses would have baulked. But he is such a game little bugger. I wasn’t really held up waiting for the run because he is a horse that you’ve got to let have one crack at it. You can’t let him go too early. So you’ve got to sort of hold him up as long as you can in the straight. Once he lets down, he lets down big time.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Reincarnation): 10.00 steady.
Favourite (Pyramids): 3.00 out to 3.60 in to 3.40. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Thorondo, which was fractious in the barriers and flipped over, was declared a late scratching at 1.41 pm by order of the stewards. Trainer Mr P. Duff was advised that he must provide a further barrier certificate for Thorondo prior to its next race start. On return to scale a protest was lodged by jockey C. Reith, rider of the 3rd placegetter, Margy Magic, against Pyramids (M. Palmer) being declared 2nd, alleging interference inside the final 100m. After considering the evidence, stewards found that passing the 100m, Margy Magic was placed in restricted room between Albert Cadabra and Pyramids, which shifted in slightly. Stewards however were not satisfied that the minor tightening impeded the momentum of Margy Magic in any way and therefore the protest was dismissed and correct weight was semaphored on the Judge's placings. Lord Nediym (A. Taylor) raced wide in the early stages. Altaica (C. McIver) over-raced in the early stages.
S. Galloway, rider of Sun For Sale, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 500m when endeavouring to improve, shifted out and made contact with Kanpeki (O. Turpin), which resulted in that horse shifting out and becoming unbalanced, losing considerable ground and blundering. S. Galloway was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 18 January and to expire at midnight, 29 January 2009.
Passing the 400m, Lord Nediym (A. Taylor) shifted out to avoid the heels of Albert Cadabra (S. Scriven), which shifted out to improve. Kanpeki (O. Turpin) raced wide throughout. A post race veterinary examination of Kanpeki failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 4:

Class 6 Mares Handicap - 1200m
1st - Ugly Betty; 2nd - Dance Girl Dance; 3rd - Michelle Cafea

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Brad Pengelly: “Everything worked out nicely. She was nicely weighted to win here. She took a little while ... she took a few strides to get into acceleration mode sort of thing. She didn’t just turn for home and then go, which makes me think she might be looking for a bit further you know. In the end she did it well though.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Ugly Betty): 3.00 out to 3.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Fasliyev Dancer (T. Treichel) jumped inwards at the start and made contact with Thick As Thieves (J. Taylor). Near the 800m, Dance Girl Dance (S. Galloway) had to be steadied when momentarily tightened for room by Fasliyev Dancer (T. Treichel), which shifted in. Rounding the home turn, Santiara (J. Bowditch), which was endeavouring to shift out to improve, made contact with Koorong Avenue (C. Reith). Near the 200m, Koorong Avenue (C. Reith) shifted in and brushed Santiara (J. Bowditch). Fasliyev Dancer (T. Treichel) raced wide for the majority of the event. Koorong Avenue (C. Reith) and Thick As Thieves raced wide throughout. A post race veterinary examination of Red Letter Daze failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 5:

NMW Handicap - 1000m
1st - Cattleman; 2nd - Acquired; 3rd - Decibella

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Harry Richardson: “The owners Noel Mobbs and Billy Loughlan are both cattlemen, so that’s where he gets his name. They bred the horse. He is a good, honest little horse. He got all the breaks today, but that’s racing isn’t it. I thought they had the chance to get to him today, but he kicked again and I thought he ran away from them at the line. He is a horse that you can’t race real often. You have got to space his runs, so I’ll probably give him a few weeks off. There’s no hurry. Has he had any problems? Boy, has he had a few issues! He’s had a foot nearly cut off. He’s had a dislocated pelvis and he’s got one fetlock that jars up. So you could say he’s doing really well.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “We sort of planned to run him off the pace. He was probably a bit closer than I wanted to be. He’s ultra-consistent. He kicked on well so it was a good strong win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Cattleman): 4.80m out to 6.00.
Favourite (Rumba Jack): 5.00 in to 4.20. Finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mini Maizing (C. McIver) was slow to begin. Rumba Jack (A. Taylor) reared at the start, losing considerable ground. Daphne Ellen (J. Bowditch) jumped inwards at the start, making contact with Rotarian (B. El-Issa). On jumping away, the saddle on Acquired (S. Galloway) shifted back and remained so for the remainder of the event. Near the 500m, Rumba Jack had to be steadied off the heels of Hodges Street (D. Craven). Red Meshach (S. Scriven) had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early stages of the straight. Rumba Jack was inclined to lay in for the majority of the straight and near the 50m was inconvenienced when that horse shifted in near the heels of Daphne Ellen. Barbres (K. Wharton) and Sleepy Jackson (E. Wilkinson) raced wide throughout.
Stewards questioned jockey El-Issa regarding his riding of Rotarian, in particular that he allowed the horse to shift off rounding the home turn, enabling the eventual winner, Cattleman, to obtain a position to that horse's inside. Jockey El-Issa stated that after racing head and head when challenged by Single Bound, Rotarian was inclined to lay out and he allowed that horse to shift out rounding the home turn instead of trying to fight it. He further added that he then allowed his mount shortly thereafter to shift back in slightly, however Rotarian then commenced to compound. On return to scale, Rotarian was found to have bled from both nostrils. Stewards noted the explanation.
Rotarian (B. El-Issa) bled during the event. Rotarian will be barred from racing for a period of 3 months. A swab sample was taken from Rotarian. Trainer B. Baldwin reported that Hodges Street returned to the enclosure with its tongue over the bit.


Race 6:

3yo Handicap - 1200m
1st - Little Mel; 2nd - Castagnola; 3rd - Piccolo Latte

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Bailey: “That’s the way you got to ride him. You got to ride him quiet and then just leave him for a run in the straight. His only bad run was when we took the blinkers off. You put the blinkers back on and he is a different horse. No, he is a good horse. Like, he’s been in the stable since before EI. That’s how long he’s been in the stable. They lost his papers. His been in the stable probably the best part of eighteen months and he is racing as good now.
“We’ll probably send him to the paddock now for a few weeks. Sending him down south is a thought, but I think we are better off here. You can’t be in both places and he’s done a good job now. He carried 57kg in one of those three-year-old races and beat them again. If you give him some time you never know what he might be. He might go on to a real good horse this one. I think he would have been a chance if he had got into the Millions because he is so adaptable when there is a bit of speed on and like today, he was just so relaxed. The first time we brought him to the races at Eagle Farm he was a bloody handful, but today he was there, nice and quiet. We’ll decide where he goes later, but maybe the Guineas during the Carnival - that could be a target.”

Jockey Terry Treichel: “He began well today and was able to get a nice run on the fence. He travelled beautifully. Coming to the corner it was just a matter of where we were going to go to try and get out. He was going so well. Then, about the 150m mark, he copped one across the nose from the second horse. It didn’t bother him you know. He got past it with ears all pricked. He did that last start as well when he won at the coast ... he had his ears picked like it was just a day out. He’s a very nice horse now and I think he’s going to be even better later on.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Little Mel): 6.00 out to 7.00.
Favourite (Castagnola): 2.80 out to 2.90 in to 2.80. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Castiglione Kid (R. Wiggins) was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, Phebetay (A. Taylor) had to be eased when tightened for room by Star Of Ombre (C. McIver), which was taken in slightly by Bingil Bay (J. Taylor). Castagnola (R. McMahon) jumped away awkwardly. Zahas Pride (B. Pengelly) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Approaching the 1000m, Stoner (S. Seamer) improved up on to the heels of Castagnola and had to be steadied. Stoner continued to over-race until near the 600m and then commenced to hang out and continued to hang out until shortly after straightening. Near the 1000m, Piccolo Latte (D. Craven) improved up on to the heels of Bingil Bay (J. Taylor) and had to be steadied and shifted out. Piccolo Latte was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the event. Passing the 800m, Hawkeye Pierce (K. Wharton) improved to the inside of Castiglione Kid (R. Wiggins) where there was insufficient room, and in doing so placed Phebetay in restricted room. Castagnola (R. McMahon) laid out passing the 600m. Bingil Bay (J. Taylor) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight until approaching the 200m. Phebetay had difficulty obtaining clear running for the entire length of the straight. Zahas Pride and Monashee Gold (S. Galloway) raced wide throughout. On pulling up, R. Wiggins was dislodged from Castiglione Kid. Jockey Wiggins returned to the enclosure uninjured and able to fulfil his remaining engagements. Journey On (M. Palmer) returned to scale with blood in its mouth as a result of a laceration to its tongue.
Stewards questioned apprentice A. Taylor regarding her riding of Phebetay, in particular having Phebetay settle at the rear of the field and her failure to improve her position between the 800m and home turn. Apprentice Taylor stated that her instructions were to have the horse settle worse than midfield, however after receiving some tightening in the early stages, the horse settled further back than she had expected. She further stated that near the 800m she again was momentarily placed in restricted room by Hawkeye Pierce. She added that she was unable to obtain clear running at any stage of the straight. Trainer D. Gollan confirmed the instructions. Stewards noted apprentice A. Taylor's explanation, however believed that there was an opportunity for her to improve between the 800m and 400m to have herself positioned slightly closer to the leaders.


Race 7:

4yo & Up E&G Class 6 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Solar Secret; 2nd - Go Cart; 3rd - Firedrake

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Phillip Pengelly: “We had the confidence to bring him down here. Last week (at the Sunshine Coast) he hit a few wet patches and Brad (Pengelly) said he didn’t feel comfortable. This was the race we set him for though and Brad said that we shouldn’t drop the bundle. So we pressed ahead and it all went well. It was a very satisfying win.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “It was lovely mate, a really lovely result for us. This was always going to be the day. This was his target. It was always going to depend on whether he was good enough. He gave when I asked and it was all good.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Solar Secret): 21.00 steady.
Favourite (Firedrake): 1.80 out to 2.30 in to 2.25. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Apprentice T. Chambers was fined $100 for failing to claim her full allowance on Firedrake. Go Cart (I. Fry) and Bushland (B. Payne) were slow to begin. Stature (J. Taylor) raced wide in the early stages. Three Chances (A. Taylor) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Approaching the 500m, Yass River (S. Scriven) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Ulladulla (C. Reith) and Firedrake (T. Chambers) which when laying out, shifted out slightly. Near the 250m, On Bail (R. McMahon) obtained a narrow run to the inside of Subtle Glance (R. Wiggins), and then passing the 200m, On Bail was momentarily placed in restricted room to the inside of Subtle Glance, which was taken in slightly by the tiring Stature (J. Taylor). Near the 200m, Solar Secret (B. Pengelly) shifted out to improve and made contact with Heart (M. Palmer). Inside the final 50m, Subtle Glance had to be steadied to avoid the heels of On Bail, which shifted out around the heels of Firedrake to obtain clear running. R. McMahon, rider of On Bail, was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. On Bail (R. McMahon) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. Feeling Dandy (B. El-Issa), Ulladulla (C. Reith) and Three Chances (A. Taylor) raced wide throughout. Go Cart (I. Fry) was inclined to lay out throughout the event. A post race veterinary examination of Ulladulla revealed the gelding had sustained a laceration to the front of the off hind coronet.


Race 8:

Class 6 Handicap - 1600m
1st - Take The Plea; 2nd - Shuffle The Cash; 3rd - Majorca

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Wallace: “It’s been a long time since I’ve trained a winner at this price. He won well. I thought he’d probably want further today. He’s work’s been alright. I put him over the jumps in the bull-ring at the Gold Coast. He never really jumped them any good, he ran through them all, but at least it sharpened him a little bit, you know. I was in the trainers’ bar and I said to them at the 1000m he is going to be hard to beat. I could see. I could tell.”

Jockey Scott Galloway: “He’s not a bad old horse, particularly when he gets up over 2000m. He was second-up and so he’s a bit on the fresh side. It was a nice pace so I just sat him back. At the 600m he really gave me a good feeling. He was really strong and he is the type of horse who can make a strong forward move.
“From the 600m I just let him continue. He is such a big, long strider. You know, he is not a sit and sprint horse. So when I straightened I had a lapful of horse. so I just went for home and he opened up real good.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Take The Plea): 51.00 out to 61.00.
Favourite (Majorca): 4.60 out to 4.80 in to 4.20. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Humma (K. Wharton) was slow to begin. The Cavern Club (A. Spinks) and Waterford Jack (M. Traecey) came together on jumping away. Shortly after the start, Another Takeover (C Reith) commenced to over-race and continued to do so until the 1100m where it had to be steadied off the heels of Eleventh Command (D. Craven). Another Takeover continued to over-race and near the 800m shifted in, tightening Punch Up (J. Taylor). Primeval Demand (B. El-Issa), which was following, was hampered in consequence. Near the 700m, Punch Up (J. Taylor) became unbalanced when racing to the inside of Another Takeover. Passing the 500m, Humma improved up on to the heels of Primeval Demand and had to be steadied. Eleventh Command (D. Craven) and Punch Up were held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. Near the 350m, Majorca (S. Scriven) had to be momentarily steadied when tightened for room by Red Sphere (B. Pengelly), which shifted in.
When questioned regarding the improved performance of Take The Plea, trainer J. Wallace could offer little explanation other than he had varied the horse's training slightly during the week following the horse's disappointing performance first back from a spell. He added that Take The Plea at its last campaign failed to live up to the potential it had shown as a three year old. The explanation was noted.
J. Taylor was questioned regarding the performance of Punch Up, jockey J. Taylor stated he was obliged to race in restricted room from the 600m until shortly after straightening and was then held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. He further added that after obtaining clear running near the 200m it had only run on fairly.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All winners, Rotarian