SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, JAN 04)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, January 4.

Racing at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday saw Eddie Wilkinson headline the act with a quality riding treble. Wilkinson has days when his ability shines through and his ride on Kanpeki (in particular) highlighted his prowess in the saddle.

Greg Kennedy took the training honours with a double on the day.


Race 1:

4yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1000m
1st - Preception Bay; 2nd - Wishenda; 3rd - Floss ‘N' Boots

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Crane: “He’s a nice horse. We bought him from the Gold Coast tried sale. I had his half-brother, a horse called Scandal Park. It was a very talented horse. This horse has got plenty of ability but he had a seedy toe, a few shoulder problems, a virus and that sort of thing, and then the EI hit and he had a sort of bad dose of that and now he’s come back nice. He’s come up very well.
“A young apprentice ... a young girl starting out to be an apprentice chasing her licence, Keely James, she’s ridden him in the trials for me. She’s apprenticed to Ian Livingston. She rides very nice. She’s being doing a bit of work with him plus the work riders at home you know. Jason’s ridden him a treat today. The filly that run second today, that’s her first start for me. She’s had twenty-seven previous starts and she’s run second today. So that’s the best possible result other than a dead-heat.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Fortynil (J. Kropp), which was slow to begin, was crowded a short distance later between Wishenda (M. Speers) and Rumpapumpum (A. Erhart), both of which shifted ground. Penguin Suite (C. Eaton) raced wide throughout the race. Apprentice J. Kropp, rider of Fortynil, was advised of his obligations when using the whip on a horse out of contention. When returning to scale, J. Taylor was dislodged from the winner, Preception Bay. J. Taylor was examined by the club's doctor and cleared to fulfil his remaining engagements.


Race 2:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Plate - 1000m
1st - Showit; 2nd - Rovert; 3rd - Showboat

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Miller: “She’s had a lot of little niggling problems. She was always going to have good improvement in her.”

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “She’s still very green, but does everything pretty much right. It’s a bit new to her when she gets clear of other horses. She could make a very nice horse.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed when Shesinthemoeny, which had been loaded, broke through the barriers and cantered a short distance. The filly was returned to the barriers and examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. Secret Habit (R. McMahon) was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, Shesinthemoney (M. O'Brien) had to be steadied off the heels of Midnightmare (D. Gill) when taken in by Saintly Touch (J. Taylor). Rounding the home turn, Showboat (A. Pattillo) shifted out to improve, forcing Croix De Fer (G. Baker) and Rovert wider on the track. Showit (E. Wilkinson) shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages. Croix De Fer (G. Baker), Rovert (O. Turpin) and Maple Leaf (C. McIver) raced wide throughout. When returning to scale, J. Murphy was dislodged from the 4th placegetter, Bifocal. J. Murphy was examined by the club's doctor and cleared to fulfil her remaining engagements. Maple Leaf lost its near-fore plate in running. Following this event the track rating was upgraded to Dead 4.


Race 3:

3yo & Up Maiden Plate - 1600m
1st - Elate And Excite; 2nd - Binrasy; 3rd - Decarazi

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Greg Kennedy: “He sat very wide and went far too early last time, so that result wasn’t his form. I said to the jockey before hand, never mind that run, he should go well today. He has had seventeen starts but, in saying that, he’s only had three or four over the journey. I think when he gets up to 2100m or 2200m he’ll be a very nice horse.
“He is by Ombra Della Sera and he’s always shown early in trials. He’s won 800m trials here by four lengths. You go, well I’ve got a nice sprinter here and then of course he doesn’t show anything ... and you think, what have I done wrong here? But he was obviously really wanting a bit of distance.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Benzine (C. McIver) shifted in at the start, making contact with Pleasure Shot (K. Wharton). Near the 1200m, Binrasy (C. Eaton) had to be steadied off the heels of Decarazi (C. Reith), which shifted in momentarily. Binrasy then commenced to race ungenerously for a short distance. Passing the 1100m, Benzine (C. McIver) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Binrasi, which shifted in after improving onto the heels of Light Sensation (J. Brown). Approaching the 800m, Elate And Excite (K. Pope) had to be steadied after improving up on to the heels of Light Sensation. Nearing the 500m, DecaraziI (C. Reith) became unbalanced when bumped by Light Sensation, which was taken in slightly by Elate And Excite (K. Pope). Rounding the home turn, Sir Reason (I. Coombes) had to be steadied after improving on to the heels of Binrasy (C. Eaton). Light Sensation raced wide in the early stages.


Race 4:

Class 4 Handicap - 1600m
1st - Relodge; 2nd - Kings Artist; 3rd - Vargas Girl

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Stuart Phegan: “We’ve come back from a very disappointing time. He had a stone abscess for those two runs when he finished eighth and sixth, but after that he come good then. He just jumped out of the ground after that.
“The second disappointment was obviously when he was scratched last weekend (after the false start at Doomben). Yeah, I did come up on the day that day (from Tancurry). It was a big effort to get there. I’d done a bit of research on the trip and talked to a few blokes who’d done it, and I tried to sort of base myself on that, yeah, and once we got up here it was good. The trip took eight hours. We left at one-thirty in the morning and stopped off at Ballina for one hour. Then we got the false start and he was scratched. So this was a nice change of fortune.”

Jockey Ric McMahon: “I was meant to ride him at Doomben and he got scratched that day. All the vet done that day was put his hand over his nose and said ‘no he’s done too much work’, so that was disappointing. Today there was no speed in the race and he was up there right on the money the whole way and he fought on well.”

While I was talking to Ric McMahon, I asked him about the win of Castagnola at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Jockey Ric McMahon: “When he won here (at the Sunshine Coast) on debut, he was just too good for them. Then, yesterday he just revelled in the going. I just gave him a couple of backhands and he just left them behind. It was pretty impressive.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sir Phoenix (J. Wood) raced wide in the early stages. Leaving the 600m, Neology (J. Bowditch) shifted out to obtain clear running and was then obliged to race 3 wide for the remainder of the event. Rounding the home turn, Kings Artist (B. Pengelly) shifted out, forcing Neology (J. Bowditch) wider on the track. Near the 100m, Frisco’s In Charge (O. Turpin) was hampered when racing between Relodge (R. McMahon) and Sir Phoenix (J. Wood), which shifted out under pressure.


Race 5:

C&G Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Daintain Boy; 2nd - Black Dakota; 3rd - Through The Waves

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Stephen Lowe: “He’s only run six times for two wins and two seconds, so he’s already been a nice little money-spinner for us. He’s not a world beater, but he’s a nice little horse who looks like he is going to go through a few classes going forward. He’s had no issues. We’ve just been taking our time with him.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Canefly (K. Pope) jumped away awkwardly. Near the 900m, when the pace slowed, Through The Waves (O. Turpin) improved up on to the heels of Qwerty (C. Dixon), resulting in Through The Waves having to be steadied and shift out, taking Costner (J. Bowditch) out onto the heels of Dantain Boy (C. McIver) and had to be steadied.
A. Pattillo, rider of Black Dakota, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in that over the concluding stages he permitted his mount to shift in under riding, resulting in Classic Reward (K. Wharton) having to be steadied approaching the 50m, and then continued to permit his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Qwerty (C. Dixon), resulting in Qwerty being checked. A. Pattillo was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 7 January and to expire at midnight, 18 January 2009.
Black Dakota (A. Pattillo) was held up on the heels of Costner (J. Bowditch) from leaving the 500m until nearing the 400m. Through The Waves (O. Turpin) improved up on to the heels of Qwerty (C. Dixon) near the 500m and had to be steadied. Costner was held up for clear running for a short distance shortly after straightening. Classic Reward (K. Wharton) and Debraith (A. Spinks) raced wide throughout. Apprentice O. Turpin, rider of the 3rd placegetter, Through The Waves, was reminded of his obligations to ride his mounts right out to the finish line.

An inquiry was opened into the running and handling of Aqua Calda. After taking evidence from jockey B. Pengelly, the inquiry was adjourned to enable stewards to interview trainer L. Birchley who was absent from today's meeting.
A post-race veterinary examination of Aqua Calda revealed the gelding suffering from anhydrosis (not a free sweater). Trainer L. Birchley will be advised that he would be required to provide a veterinary clearance for the gelding prior to its next race start.


Race 6:

Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Sweet Sassi; 2nd - Casholet; 3rd - Treasure Cay

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Co-trainer Jason McLachlan: “She had t do it tough, didn’t she? The other horse (Treasure Cay) just kept pushing out in front of us. It was a good hard fought win. It’s pretty hard to go from a Maiden to a Class 1 win under that sort of pressure – but she’s done it.”

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “There was one inside us which carried us out across the track. Ric (McMahon – the rider of the runner-up) was in his rights to have a look at the video, but my horse wasn’t the culprit. It all ended good.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Answer To A Prayer (D. Griffin) began awkwardly. Treasure Cay (J. Wood) and Sweet Sassi (E. Wilkinson) made contact on jumping away. Shortly after the start, We’ve An Angel (O. Turpin) shifted out abruptly, hampering Staralie (R. Wiggins) and Any Wonder (J. Brown). As a result, We’ve An Angel took no further competitive part in the race. Trainer L. Brazier was advised that he would be required to trial We’ve An Angel in an official trial prior to its next race start. Nearing the 800m when the pace steadied, Telebron Gold (A. Spinks) improved up on the heels of Treasure Cay and shifted out, making contact with Sweet Sassi on several occasions. Approaching the 200m, Treasure Cay (J. Wood) shifted considerable ground outwards when being ridden with the whip, resulting in Sweet Sassi (E. Wilkinson), Casholet (R. McMahon) and Any Wonder(J. Brown) being forced wider on the track. A short distance later, R. McMahon, rider of Casholet, when attempting to go for the whip, became unbalanced and as a result lost his right stirrup iron. Apprentice J. Wood, rider of Treasure Cay, was severely reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift considerable ground outwards. Any Wonder (J. Brown) raced wide throughout.


Race 7:

Open Handicap - 1200m
1st - Kanpeki; 2nd - General Patton; 3rd - Myndos

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Greg Kennedy: “She had a few problems six weeks ago which she doesn't have now. She was bruised up in the feet from the wet weather. My dad was a farrier and I did my time with him so I knew how to fix, you know. I just fixed her up. Eddie (Wilkinson) deserves a big wrap for his ride. He’s a very under-rated rider. Look at the mare’s record ... anybody who is a punter would have picked up her good record at this track (where she has now won five out of nine starts). She just loves it here. So we’ll head to the Listed race here in a fortnight, the Summer Cup ... well it was the Summer Cup. I don’t know what they call it now. But that’s where we’ll go.”

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “She had the right run in the race and then had enough fight to get there in the end. It was a good effort.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Silvern (O. Turpin) began awkwardly, losing considerable ground. The Big Easy (C. Reith) shifted out at the start, making heavy contact with Tropiqualo (M. Speers). Slick Trick (J. Brown) blundered on jumping away. Approaching the 800m, Growsir (J. Bowditch) commenced to over-race for a short distance. Shortly after straightening, Kanpeki (E. Wilkinson) shifted out, making contact with Telegrand (J. Taylor). Telegrand and Slick Trick raced wide throughout.


Race 8:

Class 2 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Seraphino; 2nd - Wind Gusts; 3rd - Sheeza Drama

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall: “We had to do a few gear changes with him. He’s a bit of a non-trier. We put the pacifiers and the blinkers on him, I think that’s helped him. He is a very timid horse. He doesn’t want to take a tight run ... and today he was quite good. I think the blinkers and the pacifiers have done the trick. He always travelled good in the run there today. He was always going to let down, but he just got held up a bit at the top of the run. He sprinted hard at the end, that was the main thing.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Seraphino (O. Turpin) began awkwardly, losing ground. Fantastic Carat (N. Thomas) was tightened for room at the start between Sheeza Drama (J. Brown) and Fenec Fox (J. Bowditch), both of which shifted ground. Seraphino (O. Turpin) was held up for clear running between the 500m and 400m. Leaving the 200m, High Dee (M. Speers) shifted out, making contact with Fennec Fox. Smart Opinion (C. McIver), Eye Eye Silver (K. Cunningham), Red Shadow (J. Taylor) and Sheeza Drama all raced wide throughout. High Dee lost its off-fore plate in running.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Horses swabbed
All winners, Wishenda, Kings Artist