EAGLE FARM REVIEW (WED, JAN 28)

A review of the meeting held at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, January 28.

Race 1:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1500m
1st - Sarcastically; 2nd - Zoe's Act; 3rd - Young Cried Wolf

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Smith: “I don’t really know what happened at the Sunshine Coast last time (when the horse performed poorly). I was away in New Zealand and I believe the horse got upset on the day. I don’t know if it was because it was really hot in the float ... and they had a lot of noise on the fence. I complained to the stewards about it. With the holidays up there, when the horses were going out, the crowd banged on the fence. The horses just get so upset and he tipped the rider off.
“If you want a story, the story is that for the last twenty-nine meetings that I’ve had a runner in over the last three-and-a-half months or so, I’ve had a winner at twenty-six of those meetings – that is meetings I’ve been involved in. You can call me, Strike-Rate Brian”

Just then apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer stepped off the winner and came up to Brian Smith.

Brian Smith (talking to Hellyer): “I tell you what, there’s a little bit of a lesson to be learnt right there. You’ve got to learn to use the stick in the other hand!”

Michael Hellyer: “In the right.”

Brian Smith: “If you don’t you are going to waste time and lose ground when you run in.”

Michael Hellyer: “Yeah, he didn’t run in that bad.”

Brian Smith: “But say he did run in, you know what I mean?”

Michael Hellyer: “Yeah, yeah.”

With that, Hellyer walked back to the jockey’s room and, along the way, he provided some useful insight into his current riding situation.

Michael Hellyer: “I was attached to Col Parker (at Murwillumbah). I was there at least a year-and-a-half. He got me going. I’m now on loan to Pat Duff. I was very excited when he (Duff) offered me the chance when I got off one of his horses at Doomben. My boss Col Parker straight away said, you’ve got to take it. He said it is an opportunity to work with the best. I’ve been there two weeks and I’ve already sat down and gone through my videos with him.
“That was my third ride for Brian (Smith). I know he is a very smart man. Did you hear what he said about my riding. He said I rode it good but I should have changed my whip. I think it is sensational that he tells me right there. It helps me keep my head down. I don’t walk around thinking I had a great ride. He’s telling me how to ride ... how to improve, and I love that!

For the last word, we go back to Brian Smith.

Brian Smith: “Well, my instructions were to be a bit handier, but he (Hellyer) said they went too quick and I liked his explanation. I think he has got a big future but, as with most kids, to have that future he MUST learn to use his stick in both hands. I say that because I know what’s needed for a rider to be special.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sarcastically): 2.50 out to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Brigadoon Champ (A. Taylor), which was slow to begin, was tightened for room shortly after the start between Foreign Lass (J. Bowditch), which shifted in, and Sarcastically (M. Hellyer), which shifted out. Young Cried Wolf (L. Cassidy) was inclined to lay out rounding the home turn.


Race 2:

3yo & Up F&M Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Way Too Hot; 2nd - All Show; 3rd - Persuadeandpossess

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Strong: “We bought her as a yearling at Magic Millions for $8000. She showed a lot of potential. She won a trial early and we thought we had a smart two-year-old type. But, she is just a horse that, in hindsight, we should have been patient with. Because she won that trial so well at Eagle Farm we paid up for the Magic Millions, but that didn’t work out. Her mother Lucy’s Way is Group 2 placed over 2000m, which makes it interesting.”

Jockey Ric McMahon: “I got a nice run through them, you know. She got all the splits at the right times. She’d probably just had enough the last bit ... getting her head up a bit, getting tired. The best thing about it was she travelled into it so well. She sort of wanted to race from about the 600m and I made up about three lengths without moving on her. Yeah, it was very good.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Way Too Hot): 8.00 out to 10.00.
Favourite (Jester Rose): 3.00 out to 3.20. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Life Of A Lady (S. Seamer) jumped away awkwardly. Shortly after leaving the 400m, Jester Rose faltered. Near the 150m, Prohibition Lass (T. Pannell) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Jester Rose (D. Craven), which was shifting outwards under pressure. Trainer B. Baldwin reported that Jester Rose cast its near-fore plate in running. Sometime after the horse raced, B. Baldwin informed stewards that Jester Rose was lame in the near foreleg. A veterinary clearance will be required for Jester Rose prior to its next race start.


Race 3:

3yo & UP G&E Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Oceans Twenty; 2nd - Indy Go Gold; 3rd - Dapper

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Matthew Dunn (foreman for the Gerald Ryan stable at Murwillumbah): “He just knocked up a bit last time. Might need further, I just don’t know yet. It was a good enough win. The scratching of the favourite (at the barriers) obviously helped us. Yeah, we’ve got about twenty-five in work down there now and everything’s rolling along really good. Couldn’t be happier.”

Apprentice jockey Matthew Palmer (who out-rode his claim with this winner): “He can probably get further. The thing is it’s just when he gets to the front too early, he tends to look around a bit.”
“Two years ago when I broke my neck, I thought that was the end of my riding career. It happened at Doomben on Australia Day two years ago. In was out for about twelve months so, I mean two years ago I couldn’t have even contemplated ever being in this position. It’s feels really good.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Oceans Twenty): 4.00 out to 4.40 in to 4.20.
The winner was the favourite with a 53c deduction after the original favourite Rich Baby was withdrawn at the start.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Rich Baby became fractious in the barriers. At a subsequent veterinary examination the horse was found to have suffered injuries to its head and lacerations to the nostrils, which deemed the horse unfit to race and Rich Baby was declared a late scratching at 1.36 pm. Following the event, all monies invested on Rich Baby were ordered to be refunded, with deductions of 53 cents in the dollar on the face value of win bets, 26 cents in the dollar on the face value of place bets applicable. Biscay Rocker (J. Taylor), Catwalk Strut (K Purdy) and Incendio (L. Cassidy) were all slow to begin. Catchment (T. Pannell) was inclined to hang out in the middle stages. Near the 600m, Biscay Rocker improved up on to the heels of Oceans Twenty (M. Palmer) and shifted out, taking Catchment wider. Near the 200m, Dapper (R. McMahon) shifted out and made contact with Pearl Of Paradise (N. Spencer) when it was inclined to lay out under pressure. K. Purdy, rider of Catwalk Strut, was severely reprimanded for using her whip excessively.


Race 4:

F& M Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Cool Edition; 2nd - Miss Courtly; 3rd - Jacana Belle

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “That was very pleasing first-up and going over nowhere near her best distance. She gets up to a mile. She went good. Always nice for a home-bred to come back like that.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “She really sprinted very quickly. I had to sort of get between those horses quick otherwise the run was going to close. I was surprised how fast I got there and all of a sudden I was a couple of lengths clear. I thought, well I’ve got here a bit soon, actually. She just kept going though. Bit of a soft win in the end.”

Somebody asked Cassidy if he thought he could still win the premiership, even though he has given his rivals six months start.

Cassidy: “I’ll have my work cut out, but I’ll be having a go, don’t worry.”

Glen Colless leads the Metropolitan Jockey Premiership standings with twenty-nine winners. Cassidy has a total of four wins.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Cool Edition): 5.00 out to 6.00.
Favourite (Manila Calling): 1.80 in to 1.65 out to 1.70. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Apprentice T. Chambers was fined $50 for being late leaving the jockeys' room. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account mitigating circumstances. Near the 900m, French Nova (C. McIver) had to be steadied when it improved up on to the heels of Manila Calling (T. Chambers). Approaching the 400m, French Nova (C. McIver) had to be checked when tightened for room between Cool Edition (L. Cassidy) and Manila Calling, which shifted out. T. Chambers, rider of Manila Calling, was severely reprimanded and instructed to take greater measures to keep her mounts straight in future.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Manila Calling and riding tactics adopted by apprentice T. Chambers particularly in the early stages, T. Chambers stated that the instructions were to ride the horse forward, however after being caught wide from the wide draw, she had to make use of the horse to cross runners on her inside. Trainer A. Bailey confirmed the instructions to apprentice Chambers and indicated that he felt the horse may have come to the end of its preparation and intended to spell the horse. A post race veterinary examination of Manila Calling revealed the horse to be lame in the near side foreleg.
Miss Volitant, whose rider dismounted on pulling up, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and was found to have an abnormal recovery rate and was coughing. Trainer B. Baldwin was advised that he would be required to provide the results of an endoscopic examination and a veterinary clearance for Miss Volitant prior to its next race start.


Race 5:

Class 3 Plate - 1835m
1st - Use To Be A Dancer; 2nd Innovator; 3rd - Ken And Kim

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “This horse belongs to lucky owners. They own Eleda and Jad as well.”

Owner David Cherry: “You know, it all started with a chance meeting with Bryan (Guy) in a restaurant. We didn’t know each other and I introduced myself. Nothing happened for about a year after that, but since we’ve given Bryan horses to train about two years ago we’ve had thirty-four runs. From that, on twenty-nine occasions, it’s definitely twenty-nine it might even be thirty, we’ve picked up prize-money – and we’ve had thirteen wins. That’s all from the three horses, Use To Be A Dancer, Eleda and Jad. Bryan is just a superstar at placing horses. Dean (Tanti) has also been a big part of our success. He just seems to grow in our colours. He seems to get to be six feet tall.”

Jockey Dean Tanti: “Yeah, I’ve won six on Eleda and now three on this filly for these owners. Their colours seem to bring out the best in me. She travelled well all of the way. It was her first time over 1800m, but I really did think she would be hard to beat. She was just going so well the horse. You’ve got to ride her quiet. She’s a Kiwi horse. I just love her big action. She came from New Zealand as a Maiden and she’s won three now.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Use To Be A Dancer): 2.80 out to 2.90.
Favourite (Innovator): 2.25 out to 2.45. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Amaizemea (T. Pannell) missed the start. Use To Be A Dancer (D. Tanti) got its head up and raced keenly rounding the first turn.


Race 6:

Class 4 Handicap - 1500m
1st - Notre Amour; 2nd - Prend; 3rd - Paymore

Trainer Robert Heathcote: “She’s had more trials than starts. She’s a nightmare with her naughty habits in the barriers. It’s nothing to do with her temperament. She’s got a nice nature ... but she plays up at the gates. She rears up and gets her leg caught on the barriers. Nice to get the result, but this is just a Class 4, so we won’t get ahead of ourselves. We’ll just go steady, steady.”

Jockey Christian Reith: “She was good at the start today. She’s pretty good here because the barrier staff are exceptional. They know the horse. It always helps when you’ve got a lot of horseman around you when you are on a difficult horse. She is a bit of a flighty, fractious thing, but all credit to the trainer ... second up over 1500m ... and to the barrier staff.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Notre Amour): 3.80 out to 4.00.
Favourite (Paymore): 2.70 out to 3.00. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Following his ride on Monicablinco in race 4, P. Hammersley was examined by the club's doctor and was subsequently stood down from his engagement on Prend. B El-Issa was substituted as the rider of Prend. Eddie Rapido (J. Bowditch) and Paymore (M. Hellyer) were a little slow to begin. Passing the 200m, Prend (B. El-Issa) shifted out and away from Loose Unit (J. Taylor), making contact with Notre Amour (C. Reith). J. Bowditch reported that Eddie Rapido hung in throughout the event, and approaching the finish line he had difficulty fully testing the gelding. Whilst stewards were mindful of Eddie Rapido being inclined to lay in, J. Bowditch was reminded of his obligations to ride his mounts right to the line.


Race 7:

Class 4 Handicap - 1000m
1st - Admiral Gherkin; 2nd - Single Bound; 3rd - Rosco's Circus

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Glen Colless (who was successful on his only ride for the day): “It was a bit of an arm-wrestle over the last 200m, but he dug deep and got through.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Admiral Gherkin): 2.70 out to 2.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Audubon (R. Wiggins) was slow to begin. Eternal’s Choice (C. Whiteley) jumped away awkwardly.


Race 8:

Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Blue Jupiter; 2nd - Ladros; 3rd - Aquaterra

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “He’s a bloody good horse. He’s just sort of run in some races that didn’t suit and he’s had a couple of problems. It has been frustrating because his record doesn’t reflect his ability. I mean he’s beaten Burdekin Blues so that tells you something.” (That notable win came on March 29 at Doomben). “Hopefully this win will give him a bit of confidence and he can go on a bit with it now. It wouldn’t worry me if he went up a bit in distance now – 1300m and 1350m. We’ll see how we go.”

Jockey Shane Scriven: “I was always pretty confident. There was a little bit of a worry there at the 200m, you know, he was starting to get a little bit ‘paddly’. But, one-two around the behind and he picked up and won well. He is a lot better horse than that class suggests. His form (behind Zero Rock last time) led him to be very hard to beat here. It was a huge step down in class.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Blue Jupiter): 3.20 out to 3.90.
Favourite (Ladros): 3.30 out to 3.70. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Bloodhound (A. Best) jumped in the air and missed the start. Near the 900m, Bloodhound improved on to the heels of Edward Bear (M. Palmer) and had to be steadied and shifted out wider on the track.
Chaski (C. McIver) was caught three wide after the start and raced three wide throughout. J. Taylor, rider of the 3rd placegetter, Aquaterra, was reminded of his obligations to ride his mounts right out to the finish line.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All winners, Zoe's Act, Prend.