SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (WED, JAN 07)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday, January 7.

Jockey Jason Holder revved himself up for the upcoming Magic Millions meeting with a fine, confidence boosting, riding treble. Holder in fact went home with a full house of winners as he only had three rides at the meeting.

An interesting objection left plenty of room for debate. The evidence is documented here (see race 6). Perhaps the most surprising element was when ‘accused’ rider Scott Galloway fired in a counter objection against the second placed runner, which was seemingly allowed into play. First objecting against second – that’s a new one, not to mention the fact that all protests have to be ‘ made verbally or in writing before the riders of all placed horses are weighed in’(AR165) - and not five minutes into the protest hearing. Perhaps Galloway’s wording was the problem. He must have meant ‘counter argument’ and not ‘counter protest’. It just goes to show how confusing things can sometimes become in the heat of verbal sparring.

Another possible first was the announcement on track (on no less than three occasions) to the effect that Chesters Babcock – who ran in race 2 – had been diagnosed with a wind problem after his last start and had subsequently had a throat operation to remove a spur. This information was put out to the public for them to weigh up its value. I am aware that a reader of this column, after reading about many previously undocumented operations ‘after the fact’ (in the Winner Feedback commentary) put forward a request to the Chief Steward to try and get that sort of information to be made available to punters before-hand. Whether Wednesday’s announcement was a sequel to that approach or not, is not important. The fact that such information is now being passed on is encouraging. That of course still leaves punters with a dilemma of deciding whether an operation has benefitted or disadvantaged the horse in question. In this case there was no happy return as Chesters Babcock trailed in nearly five lengths behind the second last placed runner.

Stewards Supplementary Report Extract:
From Deagon Offices, 10.4.08
Stewards today rescinded a ban under AR53A placed on City Lights which competed in Race 8, The Class 5 Handicap (1000M), which returned to scale showing signs that the horse had suffered a bleeding attack. Stewards were advised by the clubs veterinary surgeon that further tests conducted on City Lights showed the bleeding attack to relate to other complications which resulted when the horse reared in the barriers hitting its head. Trainer T. Whittington was advised that a veterinary certificate clearance would be required prior to City Lights being permitted to race again. Mr Whittington further advised stewards that the horse would be sent for an immediate spell.


Race 1:

QTIS 2yo Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Spot On Target; 2nd - Ponchito; 3rd - Freton

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Howard Wilson: “His dam and the dam of Takeover Target are half-sisters. That’s how we got to the name, hoping some of the star quality would rub off on him. We had him in town and he was very green in his first two starts. He was well beaten both starts, but the races were won by Double Heart (who races in the Magic Millions on Saturday) and Sarge In Charge (who will contest a $1 million race in New Zealand later this month). So there was no disgrace there.
“We wanted him ridden quite today and then to come home strong, which he did well. He’s still learning though and Jason (Holder) said he will be a lot better once he gets to know what it is all about.”

Jockey Jason Holder: “He went nicely, I thought. He was a bit lazy in the running ... got back a bit. I think in a Class 1 next time he will be a horse to watch out for because he just wants a bit of distance. Yeah he (trainer Howard Wilson) told me that bit about Takeover Target as well. He said he’d be happy if this one was half as good as Takeover Target. I said even if he was quarter as good he’d be doing well.”

Spot On Target stopped the clock in a time of 1-11.75 to set a New Class record. The previous record (1-12.22), which stood since April 2007, was held by Swiss Ace who went on to land a couple of feature race victories (including the Weetwood) as well being deemed good enough to challenge the likes of Apache Cat during last year’s Winter Carnival.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Spot On Target): 3.50 out to 4.00.
Favourite (Here Comes Tony): 2.00 out to 2.10. Finished sixth and last.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Dramatising over-raced in the early stages. Here Comes Tony had a tendency to lay out in the middle stages. Dramatising shifted out when placed under pressure in the straight. Almazaya (N. Thomas) raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Here Comes Tony, which tired in the straight, revealed the horse to be suffering from mild heat stress.


Race 2:

Class 2 Handicap - 1000m
1st – Anachelle; 2nd - The Crusader; 3rd - Salute The Judge

WINNER FEEDBACK:
The Liam Birchley trained Anachelle (Mitchell Speers) and the short-priced favourite The Crusader joined issue in a stride for stride battle over the final 200m. Both were hard ridden for much of that tussle, but when Speers put the stick away and started riding just with his hands, Anachelle found that little bit extra to be able to shut out the main fancy.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Anachelle (M. Speers) was slow to begin. The Crusader (R. Wiggins) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground. Leaving the 900m, Bigger Than (T. Chambers) shifted in and away from The Crusader, making contact with Salute The Judge (K. Wharton), which in turn shifted in, taking Chesters Babcock in on to Anachelle. Clearly Vain (G. Baker) had a tendency to lay out rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight. Clearly Vain lost its off-fore plate in running. A post-race veterinary examination of Chesters Babcock, which finished a distant last, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 3:

3yo & UP F&M Maiden Handicap - 1300m
1st - Laurinel Princess; 2nd - Stratplan; 3rd - Palais Royale

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Rex Lipp: “She’s by Desert Prince and she’s going to be a dead-set 2000m horse. I don’t know if you heard, but I said to Jason (Holder) when he came back – 2000m, and he said ‘one hundred percent.’ She just wouldn’t settle properly in Sydney. We had a little bit of a nervous problem with her, but she’s settling down well now. She’s nicely bred and should run all day so to win over 1300m is pretty encouraging.”

Jockey Jason Holder: “She attacked the line nicely. Definitely wants further. Had the tongue-tie on today. Must have choked down last start. She went very well. Turned her form around really. It was only a Maiden win, but there’s only so much they can do at this stage.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Les Lola (S. Scriven) was slow to begin. Near the 800m, when the pace slackened, Better Stuff (L. Rolls), Les Lola (S. Scriven) and All Join Hands (N. Thomas) all over-raced for a short distance. Palais Royale (A. Pattillo) and Laurenel Princess (J. Holder) raced 3 wide in the middle stages.



Race 4:

3yo & Up C&G Maiden Handicap - 1300m,
1st - Jagerbomb Time; 2nd - Fame Dancer; 3rd - Brokacanon

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Smith: “He’s been off all that time (seven months). The reason for that is he is a big leggy horse and he was over-anxious before. But he’s come back well this time. We gave him a good preparation so he’d be solid. And, you know, he showed today that the nervous edge was taken off him. He raced lovely and he was ridden beautifully. The way he got to the line he looked like he could have won over a longer distance today.”

I pointed out this was Jason Holder’s third win from only three rides on the day.

Brian Smith: “Is it? Well there you have a good reason for the win. It must have been him, not me.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Nobody’s Friend (G. Butler) had to be steadied shortly after the start tightened for room between Brokacanon (S. Galloway) and Casual Deal (K. Pope), which shifted in after making contact with another runner. Nobody’s Friend (G. Butler) and To The Fore (K. Wharton) raced wide for the majority of the event. N. Spencer, rider of Pearl Of Paradise, was reminded of his obligations to ride his mounts right out to the finish line.
When questioned regarding the performance of Young Prince, N. Day stated that the horse travelled well and was in a challenging position rounding the home turn. However the horse failed to respond to his riding down the home straight and, in his opinion, proved very disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination of Young Prince failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Trainer L. Mayfield-Smith advised stewards he was also disappointed with the horse's performance and indicated that he would recommend to the owners to retire the horse.
A post-race veterinary examination of To The Fore revealed the gelding to have bled from both nostrils. Subsequently, trainer K. Munce was found guilty of a charge under AR53A(2), in that after becoming aware that TO THE FORE had the presence of blood in both nostrils following the race, he did fail in his obligation to notify stewards of this fact without delay. Mr Munce was fined $1000.


Race 5:

C & G Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Geebeetee; 2nd - Shady Prospect; 3rd - Mauries Pick

WINNER FEEDBACK:
“He’s been looking for 1200m. There hasn’t been a race to suit him you know.” (Geebeetee’s previous two efforts were over 1000m). “Owen (Turpin) and I are sweet now. He was on the outer with me after his ride on Silvern , but he’s redeemed himself now.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shady Prospect (S. Scriven) raced fiercely in the middle stages. Mauries Pick and King Brahm raced wide for the majority of the event. A post-race veterinary examination of Brain Explosion revealed the horse had bled from both nostrils.


Race 6:

Class 6 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Rule By Right; 2nd - Riseupsinging; 3rd - Prince Lionheart

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Eddie Wilkinson, rider of the runner-up Riseupsinging, lodged a protest against the winner Rule By Right (Scott Galloway), alleging interference at the 200m mark.

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “Approaching the furlong or thereabouts, Scotty Galloway’s mount comes to our side. Probably got half a length on us, then tried to duck in, which made me stop riding my horse along and take hold for a couple of strides. Scotty straightened and got away from us - probably a length and a half, and I’ve wound my mount up again. The margin was a half-head at the line. I think that without that – which it shows on the film – without that I would have finished in front of the winner.”

The Chairman of Stewards asked if Galloway had any questions for Wilkinson.

Jockey Scott Galloway: “At the 300m did your horse move out and make contact with my horse on a number of occasions?”

Wilkinson: “Well, he did – but that’s got nothing to do with what I’m protesting about.”

Galloway: “Do you believe when you come out and bumped me a couple of times, then when my horse gets balanced up again, those couple of bumps ... contacts ... made my horse want to duck in?”

Wilkinson: “No, I don’t think so. Not at all. After that, your horse ran on a straight line. It hasn’t made your horse shift at all. It was only when you got a half length on us, as I say, your horse ducked in.”

Greg Kennedy (the trainer of Riseupsinging) was then asked for his input.

Kennedy: “Just to say that my mare has had three starts over a mile and she does take a bit to wind up. She’s dropped back to 1400m. Eddie (Wilkinson) knew this and was just winding her up at the right time. Yes, I agree with Scott that at the 300m they were racing tight, but both horses were holding their own and it was only when Scott’s horse got a half-length and then ducked in abruptly (that there was interference). As you can see on the video, Scott had to stop riding and straighten his horse. You know, that just caused my mare ... blocked her for a run and stopped her momentum, and she got beat a half-head. Without that she could have won.”

Galloway: “Are you saying after watching the video, that your horse didn’t come out and bump my horse?

Kennedy: “We’re not focussing on the 300m Scott. We’re focussing on the ...”

Galloway: “Well I can counter protest!”

Kennedy: “At the 300m they were both holding ground against each other. Both horses. You were hanging in and mine was holding ... putting her shoulder into yours. Both were holding their ground. Both riders were riding fair dinkum. Neither rider stopped riding.”

Galloway was then asked to make a final statement.

Galloway: “As we straightened up I was behind the second horse, coming to its outside. As I got up alongside it, that horse has shifted out and bumped my horse on two or three occasions. My horse has wanted to lay in, but I believe those couple of bumps put her right off into that direction. Then I straightened the horse. After that, the horse gets away, runs straight and, you can see on the video, the last fifty metres I was pretty easy on the horse, whereas the second horse was ridden hard with the whip. I was quite soft on the horse the last fifty metres and viewing the film I don’t see any evidence of Wilkinson’s mount, he happened to stop riding for a couple of strides, I don’t think the film shows that his momentum was lost or interrupted at any stage.”

The Chairman of Stewards (speaking to Eddie Wilkinson). “Scott Galloway appears to have lodged a counter objection with regard to the incident at the 300m. You’ve already made reference to that ... is there anything further you wish to say in relation to what happened at the 300m?”

Wilkinson: “No.”

Les Smith (co-owner of Rule By Right) was then allowed to gives his observation of the incident at the 200m.

Smith: “It appeared to me yes, there was just a slight brush, but it did not appear as if anyone was disadvantaged. “

That concluded the protest hearing.
After due consideration the protest was dismissed.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On return to scale a protest was lodged by E. Wilkinson, rider of the 2nd placegetter, Riseupsinging, against Rule By Right being declared the winner, alleging interference near the 200m. Stewards found that at that point Rule By Right shifted in under pressure, hampering Riseupsinging (E. Wilkinson), however were of the opinion that the interference suffered did not have a material effect on the finishing positions of the relevant horses and therefore the protest was dismissed.
Another protest was lodged by trainer R. Bradshaw, trainer of the 5th placegetter, Demolir, against Prince Lionheart being declared 3rd, alleging interference near the 200m. Stewards found that near the 200m, Demolir (M. Hellyer) had to be checked when attempting to take a run between Decerto, which shifted in slightly, and Prince Lionheart, which shifted out. Stewards in consideration of the margin between both horses at the finish of the race dismissed the objection and correct weight was signalled. At a subsequent inquiry, N. Day, rider of Prince Lionheart, was severely reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift out at that point of the race.
A post-race veterinary examination of Rule By Right revealed the horse had bled from one nostril. Trainer R. Pereira will be advised Rule By Right must fulfil the requirements of AR53A.


Race 7:

Class 1 Handicap- 1800m
1st -Ten Coronas; 2nd - Crocodile Lass; 3rd; - Iron Fist

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Lennie Wheeler: “He improving nicely this horse and I think he’ll continue to do so as we’ll continue stepping him up in distance. This is only his second win, but he’s never been a bad sort. I mean he ran in the Queen’s Cup behind Kerdem in heavy going at the end of the Winter Carnival last year – as a Maiden ... and that backing up after running the week before. He’s taken some time coming through, but he is travelling nicely now.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gentle Mind (D. Green) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Fast End (A. Erhart) raced wide in the early stages. Leaving the 500m, Shanamin(D. Craven) shifted out to improve and in doing so forced Gentle Mind (D. Green) wider on the track. La Jaconde, which was trailing Gentle Mind, had to be steadied and shifted wider on the track.

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