DOOMBEN REVIEW (SAT, FEB 07)

A review of the meeting at Doomben on Saturday, February 7.

Race 1:

QTIS 2yo Handicap - 1110m
1st - Streets Away; 2nd - Released; 3rd - Funtantes

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Bailey: “He’s still learning obviously. He’s a big fella. He’ll definitely be a better three-year-old. He’s just been a positive horse from the start. There are no negatives with him. He’s just so relaxed. That’s what I said to Brad (Pengelly). I said the only thing you have to watch out about this bloke is that he doesn’t go to sleep on you. He’s that relaxed. We are not really tossing up with anything in terms of what he does next. I think we’ll just hang around here for a while. He has been nominated for the Golden Slipper just to keep out options open, but I think that will be too short for him. I think he’s going to be a really nice three-year-old, so we won’t rush him too much. We won’t go to the Slipper if it doesn’t suit the horse. The horse comes before the money part, so wherever we are going to run him, we’ll run him where it is in the best interests of the horse.
“We bought him from New Zealand. We were keen on the breed. We bought him over there, broke him in and just kept him. From day one he’s been one of the star ones we’ve got in the stable. Now we like this bloke’s attitude even more than the breeding. He’ll just get better. Glen (Colless) seems to think he is one of the best ones we’d had.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “Well he is still not one hundred percent focussed on what he has got to do at the moment. You know he was a bit lethargic out of the gates. Al (Bailey) had advised me that he is a little bit sleepy. He is a very relaxed customer. So he just took a while to get into stride, but once he got balanced he was always going to find the line well quite well.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Streets Away): 1.80 in to 1.70 out to 1.75.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tiermes was declared a late scratching at 12.33 pm when that filly was unable to be loaded into the barrier stalls. Co-trainer Mr B. McLachlan was advised that he would be required to provide another barrier certificate for Tiermes prior to its next race start. A short distance after the start, Swift Sands (Matthew Palmer) laid in, making contact with Fragrant Star (C. McIver) on several occasions. Near the 700m, Streets Away (B. Pengelly) improved up on to the heels of Brennan (D. Gill), and when restrained shifted out, making contact with Funtantes (L. Cassidy). Jockey D. Gill, rider of Brennan, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 300m she allowed her mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Funtantes (L. Cassidy), which resulted in contact to Funtantes, and as a consequence forced that horse out onto the hind quarters of Fragrant Star, resulting in Fragrant Star becoming unbalanced and causing interference to Swift Sands (M. Palmer). Jockey Gill was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 6 meetings, to commence at midnight, 6 February, and to expire at midnight, 15 February. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account D. Gill's good race record. Swift Sands raced three wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Craiglea Fury, which finished a distant last, revealed the gelding to be acutely shin sore in the off-fore leg. Trainer P. Fleming was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Craiglea Fury prior to its next race start.


Race 2:

1 MW Handicap- 1615m
1st - Montoux; 2nd - Tripitz; 3rd - Malela

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Bobby El-Issa: “They went pretty quick which suited her. She hasn’t won a race since last year when I won on her. She wanted to run around in the straight. I was clear of anything else so I didn’t want to correct her, so I kept going out. If I had to correct her I reckon she would have lost half-a-length so, yeah, I just pushed her to the line.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Montoux): 15.00 out to 16.00.
Favourite (Malela): 2.80 steady. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tripitz (A. Pattillo) was slow to begin. Eddie Rapido (A. Merritt) was a little slow to begin. Near the 1400m, Malela (R. McMahon) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Starry Dancer (L. Cassidy), which shifted in. Altaica (A. Taylor), which raced wide for the majority of the event, over-raced in the early stages. Near the 250m, Malela (R. McMahon) was disappointed for a run between Starry Dancer (L. Cassidy) and Manston (B. Evans), which shifted out. A post-race veterinary examination of Altaica, revealed the mare to be sore in the off hind leg. Connections were advised that they would be required to produce a veterinary clearance for Altaica prior to its next race start.


Race 3:

Open Handicap - 2020m
1st - Bell Academy; 2nd - Winsome Loot; 3rd - Jussemi

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “People have been saying he is just a wet-tracker. He is no wet-tracker. He won the Grand Prix as a three-year-old on a wet track. He had to go from a Class 3 three-year old straight to Open company, because that’s the rules. I said to all of the owners, bear with me the next preparation because it is going to be a long tough road, but this is going to be a genuine racehorse. That was just a treat of a ride. It was Cassidy at his absolute best. He even knew ... he said to me beforehand ... he said there are six or seven horses who want to be midfield. He said I want to be just in front of them. Lo and behold, he sat just where he said he would ... and when they injected speed into the race, he just moved up as well to hold his position. Beautiful.
“The horse ran in the (Queensland) Derby last season. He got interfered with there. His name was actually mentioned twelve times in the Stewards Report. He finished seventh or eighth, but he just got interfered with so many times. Look he is a horse that ... I’m not going to get carried away ... but, I tell you what, in another two years he is going to be a genuine stayer. Ok, he’s four. Wait until he is six and fully mature and strengthens up. He’ll be a handy horse this bloke. As far as immediate and short-term plans are concerned, in two weeks time there is a 2200m Open. He can go for that. This year’s Winter Carnival is going to leave him to catch up too much, but maybe there’ll be something for him towards the end of the Carnival. We’ll still have to see how he goes. You’ve got to get four or five Open company wins in them before you start thinking about where you are going to go. This was his only first Open company win so there is still plenty of work to be done.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “He’s shown that the form from last Monday sort of held up and he’s gone on with it. He’s just a bit of a plodder. He is very narrow-gutted and my saddle slipped quite a long way back on her. All things considered, it was a game effort.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Bell Academy): 8.00 out to 9.00 in to 7.50
Favourite (Fulmonti): 3.00 out to 3.80. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Doug’s Mate (A. Taylor) was slow to begin. M. Radecker, rider of Rebounded, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that approaching the 1000m she permitted her mount to shift out, resulting in her horse coming into heavy contact with King Latarmiss (K. Pope), resulting in King Latarmiss becoming unbalanced and losing its rightful running. M. Radecker was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 12 February, and to expire at midnight, 25 February 2009. K. Pope was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in shortly after this incident, tightening Bell Academy and Winsome Loot.
Stewards questioned M. Radecker as to her left arm action when obtaining a postion away from the rails whereby it appeared to come in contact with King Latarmiss as K. Pope was endeavouring to maintain his position outside the leader. After hearing evidence from both riders and viewing the film, which was not conclusive, no action was taken. Fort ‘N’ Won was held up for clear running over the concluding stages. A post-race veterinary examination of Doug’s Mate failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 4:

QTIS 3yo Handicap - 1110m
1st - Showit; 2nd - Stoner; 3rd - Bruleur

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Miller: “That’s three full brothers and sisters who have all won a QTIS race here. Stolit, Cardio and Showit are full brothers and sisters. Stolit is now with Peter Moody. She’s had a few niggling feet problems. Nothing serious, just the normal things you have to deal with. Last time (when Showit finished fourth) it was a bit wet. We thought she would handle it, but she sort of ended up floundering in the going – and she was wide. She’s a very good filly this one. I’m hoping she is a Winter Carnival horse. I think she is very capable. I’m sure she’ll get 1350m, no trouble.”

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “Trevor (Miller) does a terrific job maintaining his horses and all credit should go to him and the staff for the result they got today. She was able to get into a good spot today and she had a good turn of foot. She was a different horse to last time.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Showit): 5.50 out to 7.50 in to 7.00.
Favourite (Spanish Fling): 2.70 out to 3.10 in to 2.70. Finished ninth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Poor Judge, which was fractious in the barriers and then became cast, was declared a late scratching by the stewards acting on veterinary advice at 2.31 pm. Trainer P. Sexton was advised that he must obtain a further barrier certificate for Poor Judge prior to its next race start. Macedon (R. Wiggins) jumped away awkwardly and made contact with Stoner (C. Reith). Tears’N’Cheers (C. McIver) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with the hind quarters of Spanish Fling (Michael Palmer). Near the 250m, Showit (E. Wilkinson) shifted out and made contact with Stoner (C. Reith). Tears’N’Cheers, which was unable to secure clear running from a point leaving the 150m, had to be steadied approaching the finish line when tightened for room between Maid Ready (S. Seamer), which shifted out after improving onto the heels of Monashee Diva, and Meet George (O. Turpin), which shifted in slightly. Spanish Fling, Stoner and Kirra Lyn (C. Spry) raced wide throughout.
Stewards questioned apprentice A. Taylor regarding her riding of Rhodamine in the home straight. A. Taylor stated that she had become concerned with the action of her mount shortly after the start and again in the straight and therefore was reluctant to place her mount under full pressure , and near the 200m had to steady Rhodamine when she anticipated a shift from Maid Ready (S. Seamer), which was racing forward and to her outside. Trainer R. Maund will be advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Rhodamine prior to its next race start. A. Taylor's explanation was noted.


Race 5:

Class 6 Plate - 1200m
1st - Three Swallows; 2nd - Release Me; 3rd - Five Ways

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Thomas: “This was his first run back today. I gave him a good break. He’d been in the stable for a long time, first in Sydney then in my stable for a little while. He needed the break. I thought it would do him a lot of good. The race went the way we thought it would. We were happy to skip away and let the others chase. The gap was closing fast, but we were good enough to get there.”

Apprentice jockey Matthew Palmer: “John (Thomas) said the horse was spot-on and we are going to go very close to collecting the cash and, yeah, spot-on he was. The race went pretty much to plan. John said to just bounce him out ... the horse has got plenty of natural speed anyway ... and then just to make our own luck from there. They were coming at him at a rate of knots at the end, but he stuck his head out again at the line which is all that counts really. The finish angle is a bit deceptive. I wasn’t overly confident that I’d won when we crossed the line, but I’m really pleased with the result. It’s my first winner since I lost my claim.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Three Swallows): 4.20 out to 4.80.
Favourite (Five Ways): 3.50 out to 3.80. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Simplex (P. Hammersley) was slow to begin. Mr Doyle (B. Pengelly) and Five Ways (K. Pope) made contact on jumping away. Near the 800m, Subtle Glance (R. Wiggins), which commenced to over-race, had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Growsir (G. Baker), which shifted in. Subtle Glance continued to over-race at the heels of Growsir for some distance thereafter. Elegant Roi (A. Taylor) over-raced in the middle stages. Near the 700m, Release Me (C. Reith) improved up on to the heels of Five Ways and shifted out, taking Mr Doyle (B. Pengelly) wider on the track. Mr Doyle raced wide thereafter. Elegant Roi (A. Taylor) had difficulty securing clear running over the concluding stages. Release Me (C. Reith) and Shudule Gee (L. Cassidy) raced wide for the majority of the race.


Race 6:

NMW Handicap - 1010m
1st - Agnes Dream; 2nd - Pub Torque; 3rd - Decibella

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Bailey: “This is his first run for six months. He bled last time so we’ve just kept him nice and relaxed. He did trial terrific at the coast the other day. He beat all of the Open class horses by about five or six lengths. He had a little kid on him and he just bolted away. But when you come up with a thirteen alley in a race like this, what can you do? We probably won’t go much further than this (1010). We won’t go past 1200m ... and he has got to get a dry track. He is not a wet-tracker. Even if we just get a shower of rain, you know, that’s it for him. You have a look at all of his runs. He needs it to be bone dry. It was good for Michael (Palmer) as well. Glen (Colless) would have ridden him if he wasn’t injured. Michael has been coming around and riding a bit of work and when they come ride a bit of work, you give them a chance where you can.”

Apprentice jockey Michael Palmer: “He was a bit slow out. He just probably didn’t have enough pace to get up there. Once he settled I just popped him one off the fence and put him to sleep. I couldn’t get him out straight away, but once he sort of tracked up and I was able to let him go, he stuck to his guns and hit the line really well.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Agnes Dream): 10.00 out to 12.00.
Favourite (Rumba Jack): 4.40 out to 4.80 in to 4.20. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
A warning was issued to the connections of Rumba Jack, which was reluctant to proceed to the barriers. Equates (P. Hammersley) jumped in the air at the start, losing ground and became unbalanced almost dislodged P. Hammersley. Rumba Jack (B. Pengelly) was slow to begin. Imposing Way (D. Craven) raced ungenerously for a short distance after the start. Trainer G. Wilkins was advised that a warning would be placed on the horse's racing manners. Contested Bid (Michael Palmer) faltered on jumping away and shifted in, making contact with His Boy Elroy (L. Cassidy). Aladdins Lion (O. Turpin) and Rumba Jack (B. Pengelly) raced wide for the majority of the race.
A post-race veterinary examination of Peakhurst revealed the gelding to be lame in the near-foreleg. Connections were advised that a veterinary clearance must be provided for Peakhurst prior to its next race start.


Race 7:

F&M Quality Handicap - 1200m
1st - Dance Girl Dance; 2nd - Michelle Cafea; 3rd - Allaboutus

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kevin Kemp: “It’s just nice to win one of these Quality Handicaps. I think I’ve nearly had a mare in nearly every one of them and they’ve just about always run a place. It’s nice to win one, you know. She was actually booked to go to the paddock after this, but how do you turn a horse out when it is racing this well and clearly enjoying it so much. She has had so many runs this time so we must be careful, but we have a re-think on that one. There is a 1300m Fillies and Mares race at Rosehill in three weeks. It might be a Listed race, I’m not sure. Maybe we’ll consider that. I have won in Sydney before, about four years ago, with a horse called Winsome Dancer, so it might be time to have another go. It would be lovely. And I like my other mare Malela as well. She could be on the same trip. We won’t make any decisions today though. I’ll have a chat to the owners. Either way we could have something to look forward to because she raced well in the Winter last year. She ran third in the Gai Waterhouse (at Ipswich), fifth in the Dane Ripper without any luck. So there are some decent options for her.
“It was a nice ride by Ric (McMahon). He had to keep her a bit closer today because the pace wasn’t that hot. Just a great ride. He rode her well on her last time when there was a strong pace and she got well back, and he did it as well today riding a different type of race. She’d earned the 56.5kg she carried today. You have to carry the weight that they give you. She is a very honest mare.”

Jockey Ric McMahon: “She jumped well and there was no speed. There were a few in a line, so I decided to go forward. Yeah, that proved to be a winning move, because we got a lovely run. We walked and then she sprinted home quickly. I just had to make sure she had galloping room. The way she let down the other day, I knew if I got rolling on her and if she let down like that again, they were never going to beat her. She did it easy.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Dance Girl Dance): 5.00 out to 6.00 in to 4.60.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1000m, Welcome Site (R. Stewart) commenced to over-race when restrained and got its head up. D. Craven, rider of Michelle Cafea, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 850m, he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Allaboutus (L. Cassidy), taking that horse inwards, resulting in Welcome Site (R. Stewart) having to be checked and lost its rightful position. D. Craven was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 12 February and to expire at midnight, 22 February. App. Matthew Palmer, rider of Satsang, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that approaching the 200m he allowed his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Welcome Site, resulting in R. Stewart having to check his mount to avoid the heels of Satsang. Matthew Palmer was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 5 meetings, to commence at midnight, 11 February and to expire at midnight, 18 February 2009. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account apprentice Palmer's good record in that he had only incurred one suspension throughout his apprenticeship.
Calchris (P. Hammersley), Welcome Site and Ugly Betty (B. Pengelly) raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Satsang failed to reveal any abnormalities. The club's veterinary surgeon also reported that Ugly Betty was found to be sore in the near-foreleg. Connections will be advised that a veterinary clearance will be required prior to its next race start.


Race 8:

2MW Last Year Handicap - 1350m
1st - Pride Of Power; 2nd - Nexgen; 3rd - Noble Gaze

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Jason Taylor: “I haven’t been having the best day so at least this is a good ending. Good training effort. Top performance by the horse. He began smartly from the one alley. He travelled enormous behind the leader and just went around him and had them covered by finishing so strongly.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pride Of Power): 8.00 out to 10.00.
Favourite (Sam’s Express): 4.20 out to 5.00. Finished ninth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Leaving the 1100m, Sam’s Express (R. McMahon), when attempting to gain a position closer to the fence, shifted in and had to be steadied off the heels of Nexgen (A. Pattillo). Sam’s Express then shifted out, tightening the running of Stage Shaker (B. Pengelly), which had to be steadied. Barons Court (D. Craven) had to be steadied near the 1100 to avoid the heels of Noble Gaze (C. Reith), which shifted in. Leaving the 300m, S. Seamer, rider of Special Voyage, dropped his whip. Umaprince (A. Taylor) had difficulty obtaining clear running over the concluding stages. A post-race veterinary examination of Enrique, which compounded and finished some distance from the main body of the field, revealed no abnormalities at the time of examination, however as the horse has previously had breathing disorders, a veterinary clearance outlining the results of an endoscopic examination will be required before racing again.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All winners, Released, Tripitz, Stoner, Release Me, Pub Torque