EAGLE FARM REVIEW (WED, FEB 04)

A review of the meeting held at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, February 4.

STEWARDS SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT EXTRACT:
Jockey A. Merritt was fined $100 for failing to obey a stewards' direction to produce a medical certificate. AR175(p)

From SCTC, 1.2.09 - Race 8
Stewards questioned trainer L. Birchley regarding the disappointing performance of Elshamah. Mr Birchley confirmed his disappointment and could offer no explanation other than to state that the gelding may have failed to handle the increase in distance as this was the horse's first start at 1600m. He further added it would now be his intention to set the horse for races over shorter distances and add blinkers to the horse's gear before its next race start.


Race 1:

3yo & Up CG&E Maiden Plate - 1400m
1st - Loves A Challenge; 2nd - Local Talent; 3rd - Golden Balls

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Smith: “This horse has given me one of the toughest times I’ve had in terms of trying to get a horse to the races - because of his bad habits ... and just his determination to do things his way. That’s why his name is Loves A Challenge, because he was very hard work for a very long time. Plenty of people have been involved in helping with him. Tammy, Brad Pengelly’s girlfriend, and (strapper) Morris Crawford, who has been his man for the last six to nine months. They’ve all played a part. The horse has come out of all that, but it was a battle.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “This horse’s family - his relatives - they’re a little bit feisty. He’s taken that attribute on board as well, but he is going well at the moment. He was easy enough to ride. Throughout the race he was fine. It’s just little things, like, after the ride he wanted to whip around and carry on and that sort of thing. That’s just ... all that means is that he is not quite mentally right at the moment. But he couldn’t be with a better person than Brian (Smith) to get him right, and yeah, like Brian says, there is a lot of people putting time and work into him. At the end of the day I guess it is sort of a team effort.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Love’s A Challenge): 2.50 in to 2.40 out to 2.60.
Favourite(Local talent): 2.10 out to 2.25. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Golden Balls (O. Turpin) was slow to begin. Local Talent (L. Cassidy) began awkwardly.
A post race veterinary examination of Kings Birthday, which tired over the concluding stages revealed the gelding to be exhibiting an abnormal respiratory noise. Whilst trainer M. Lakey indicated that connections intended to retire the gelding, stewards nevertheless advised Mr Lakey that he must provide a veterinary clearance, together with the results of an endoscopic examination if the gelding was to resume race.


Race 2:

3yo & Up Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate - 1400m
1st - Manaudou; 2nd - Chi Chi Grande; 3rd - Ella Maree

Trainer Kelso Wood: “I think she’ll make it in the city. I think she can step up in distance a bit more. She’s out of a good family. There was nothing wrong with her last two results (both second placed finishes). At Ipswich the other horse (Comatose) had the drop on her and the weight advantage – it had a claim ... and before that, here at Eagle farm, she was a bit unlucky. She just got beat by a nose. She’s bred to stick on a bit so the step up to 1400m here probably helped here.” (Manaudou had previously not raced beyond 1200m).

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “She travelled beautifully in the run and then coming to the corner she got a bit flustered. She didn’t really know what to do and she got her head up. Yeah, so I just had to sort of encourage her a bit, and once she realised that she had to accelerate, she did that well. It was just a matter of encouragement and, I guess, confidence in a way. She is a filly that is improving all the time. This was only her fifth start and I’m sure she’ll get better as she gets more experience.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Manaudou): 1.70 in to 1,60 out to 1.70.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Licorice (L. Cassidy) was slow to begin. Lucyrox (C. McIver) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.
Near the 900m, Nothin Leica Rapid (P. Hammersley) was forced to race in restricted room for a short distance inside Natane (R. McMahon), which shifted in. Choose A Star (M. Hellyer), which had a tendency to lay out, was forced wider on the track near the 600m when Pink Sapphire (J. Taylor) shifted out to improve. Choose A Star continued to lay out for the remainder of the event. Approaching the 350m, Chi Chi Grande (A. Spinks) shifted out to obtain clear running and in doing so bumped Natane. R. McMahon, rider of Natane, dropped his whip near the 150m. Rip Snorter Gal (M. Palmer) raced wide throughout the event.


Race 3:

F&M Class 3 Handicap - 1300m
1st - Vera's Pride; 2nd - Smartaat; 3rd - French Nova

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “Nice to sneak another winner ahead of Baldwin (in the Trainers’ Premiership). She is a full sister to Malta and has the same owners.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “Yeah, I’ve seen a couple of wins in Sydney when Jeff Lloyd won on her. Similar class race. He used to bounce her and not chase her to the lead, but just let her use her natural speed and get there over a furlong and a bit. Then she would lead by a couple of lengths because she was going fairly quick and then he’d get to the 600m and he would go on her. Like, she would just gap them. I said to Rob (Heathcote) ... I was happy when he said I want you to lead because that’s how she raced in Sydney and that’s how to ride her. If she can’t win like that, she’s not going to win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Vera’s Pride): 3.20 out to 3.60. (Equal Favourite).
Equal Favourite (Kenshe): 3.20 out to 3.60. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Train Wreck (S. Seamer) and Vera’s Pride (L. Cassidy) made contact on jumping away. Sonic Tara (M. Heagney) was slow to begin. Plenty Of Practise (O. Turpin) attempted to buck shortly after the start. Sonic Tara, which was following, had to be steadied and shifted out. Trainer F. Phillips was advised that Plenty Of Practise must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start. Gazillion (S. Drake) laid out when placed under pressure in the straight.


Race 4:

4yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1000m
1st - Martha's Vineyard; 2nd - Private Kiss; 3rd - Ephraim Warrior

Trainer David Murphy: “The owners bought her from Melbourne for $8000. She had fourteen starts in Melbourne and this was her fourth start for me. We gave her two runs initially, then a break. I thought she’d win first-up at Coloundra last time. Then the rainstorm came and they put the race back an hour. She come apart during the delay. She’s can be very excitable and can fall apart a bit like that. Today though, she was nice and relaxed. She had it all her own way which helped. We might just try her over 1200m and see if she can lead like she did today, with no pressure, but it might turn out that she is a strictly 1000m horse. We’ll find out. Gee, I was very impressed with this win though so, hopefully, she can go on and with a couple of more races.”

Jockey Bobby El-Issa: “She’s a nice mare. I thought she was past the post when we jumped out of the gates. I just had to steer her.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Martha’s Vineyard): 3.00 out to 3.30.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ephraim Warrior (L. Cassidy), Bulky Boy (R. Goltz) and Rumpapumpum (A. Erhart) were all checked on jumping away when severely tightened for room between Martha’s Vineyard (B. El-Issa), which jumped inwards, and Alfindo (A. Merritt), which shifted out on jumping away. Private Kiss (G. Colless) was slow to begin. Aurora Magic (J. Taylor) had a tendency to lay out when racing wide. Alfindo (A. Merritt) and Bulky Boy (R. Goltz) laid out rounding the home turn. Macreedy (S. Seamer) raced wide throughout. A post race veterinary examination of Travellers Rest, which finished a distant last after travelling wide, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Following his ride in race 4, L. Cassidy was examined by the club's doctor and stood down from his remaining engagements.


Race 5:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1000m
1st - Nikki Beach; 2nd - Foxy Fred; 3rd - Galactic Spirit

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Danny Craven: “Mate, it was a nice run. We drew out wide, one from the outside. Ended up getting across, sitting one off the fence behind the leaders. Got the run of the race. Then when we straightened up, just come out past the leaders. Then it was just a matter of holding on.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Nikki Beach): 3.80 in to 2.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Smarties was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon at the barriers at the request of its rider, A. Pattillo, and subsequently cleared to race. Trainer S. Dwyer was advised that Northbank, which was slow to begin and took no competitive part in the race, must trial to the satisfaction of the stewards prior to its next race start. Foxy Fred (R. Wiggins) was slow to begin. Tailoraymi (R. McMahon) and Smarties (A. Pattillo) were tightened for room on jumping away between Over The Page (M. Paget) and Nikki Beach (D. Craven), which shifted in. Near the 600m, Charter Boat (B. Pengelly) improved up onto the heels of Demonstrator (M. Hellyer) and when being steadied shifted out, making contact with the hind quarters of Orientelle (I. Fry). Charter Boat then had to be steadied from the heels of Demonstrator for some distance thereafter. At the same stage, Whykiki (M. Palmer) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Ben’s Choice (A. Taylor), which shifted in, and Over Te Page (M. Paget), which shifted out and away from Orientelle. Leaving the 350m, Charter Boat was momentarily held up for clear running on the heels of the tiring Maple Leaf (G. Colless). Near the 200m, Tailoraymi (R. McMahon) was tightened for room by Smarties (A. Pattillo), which shifted in and away from Foxy Fred (R. Wiggins) when that horse shifted in to obtain clear running. Trainer B. Baldwin's stable representative was advised that Maple Leaf, which compounded badly over the concluding stages, would be required to trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start, and also must obtain a veterinary clearance for the gelding before racing again. Ben’s Choice (A. Taylor) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 6:

CG&E Class 3 Handicap - 1300m
1st - Fielding; 2nd - Jovelon; 3rd -Facundo

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Anthony Merritt: “We drew wide. He is a speed horse. There was no point in trying to hold her back in so we just went straight to the front. He can pull a bit too and when he gets to the front you really have to grab hold of him. But he’s a funny horse because he hasn’t got a sprint at the end. So you’ve got to wind him up again pretty soon, so that he can just sort of keep going. He did it well here.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Fielding): 7.00 out to 7.50.
Favourite (Blue Jupiter): 2.25 out to 2,50. Finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Spirito Gentil (B. El-Issa) was tightened for room on jumping away between Spirito Volante (B. Pengelly), which was taken out by Facundo (R. McMahon), and Bang The Castle (N. Thomas), which shifted in. Fielding (A. Merritt) was slow to begin. Near the 1000m, Alright Man (R. Stewart) had to be steadied from the heels of Fielding, which shifted in. Media Fund (S. Seamer) raced wide for the majority of the event.
When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Blue Jupiter, apprentice C. McIver stated that after being slowly away, he felt that he was going to be trapped 3 wide and therefore restrained the horse in an endeavour to find a position closer to the fence. This resulted in him settling the horse further back than anticipated. C. McIver added that he was then forced to commence a forward move from the 500m without cover and, in his opinion, given the circumstances, Blue Jupiter performed creditably. Trainer L. Birchley was of a different view and was of the opinion that whilst the jockey may have been a victim of circumstances, he felt that the horse did not finish the race off as it had previously done and was of the view that Blue Jupiter may not have backed up from its most recent start seven days ago. A post race veterinary examination of Blue Jupiter failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 7:

Class 3 Handicap - 1500m
1st - Cajun Moon; 2nd - Seraphino; 3rd - Ardmilan

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “As a young horse, as a three-year-old, I thought she was going to make a really good filly. She beat that filly Dirty and No Limit and I thought she was going real well. She had a little injury to her whither and we gave her a long spell. She come back and she hasn’t shown me anything, you know. This was the last. We said if she can’t put in today ... well, she was on notice. So she just redeemed herself. She just saved herself from the breeding barn.”

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “She’s back in form. You know on her day she’ll win by four (lengths). She’s a really good mare, but she’s had problems. I wouldn’t say she is quite over it yet but that’s a start anyway to show that she is worth keeping just that little bit longer. The pace was just brilliant. They went very fast in front. She’s not really a sit and sprint mare. She just keeps whacking away. With the pace as hard as they went today, she was able to just cruise around the turn, peel off them, keep whacking away and get there. “

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Cajun Moon): 10.00 out to 11.00
Favourite (Seraphino): 3.00 out to 3.20. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Don Carmello (B. Payne) jumped away awkwardly. Near the 1000m, In Niugini (R. Stewart) improved up on to the heels of Cajun Moon (M. Hellyer) and had to be steadied. Approaching the home turn, Indiana Storm (G. Colless) commenced to weaken and shifted out, making contact with the outside fence and shortly after collapsed. The veterinary surgeon reported that Indiana Storm had suffered a suspected heart attack. Jockey G. Colless was transported to Royal Brisbane Hospital with injuries to his left foot.


Race 8:

Class 4 Handicap - 1000m
1st - Public Nuisance; 2nd - Brer Fox; 3rd - Hail Free

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Louise White: “Heather Burgess used to train him. I’m very good friends with her and she owns the horse with her parents. When Heather wanted to take a break from training, she gave me the chance to train the horse and it was his first run for me today so it is a great result.”

Public Nuisance made it back to back wins here. The gelding gave his then trainer Heather Burgess a winning send-off when saluting at the Sunshine Coast on October 5, and here he kick-started the career of Louise White, handing his new trainer a win on the first occasion that she sent out a runner.

Jockey Ric McMahon: “It was a pick-up ride because Larry (Cassidy) couldn’t ride it, so it was a bonus for me. I’d seen its runs in its earlier prep, and it’s a nice horse. I think he has come back a bit better than he was too. He jumped and he travelled good. I got held up a little bit, just coming down past the 250m, but when one dropped off I was able to come out and he hit the line good. He did a good job to win here.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hodges Street (D. Craven), which was fractious in the barriers, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. Red Enzo (M. Heagney) was slow to begin. Near the 500m, Red Enzo (M. Heagney) improved up on to the heels of Hail Free (M. Hellyer) and had to be steadied. Hail Free shifted out near the 400m and made contact with Brer Fox (B. Evans). Leaving the 300m, Public Nuisance (R. McMahon) was momentarily held up on the heels of Jay Low Girl Girl (B. El-Issa). Passing the winning post, M. Hellyer, rider of Hail Free, allowed his mount to shift in, placing Hodges Street restricted room. A short distance later, Brer Fox shifted in, taking Hail Free in on to Hodges Street, causing that runner further tightening. Both M. Hellyer, rider of Hail Free, and B. Evans, rider of Brer Fox, were severely reprimanded.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All winners, Local Talent, Private Kiss, Brer Fox
Pre-race - Ardmilan, Don Carmello, Red Enzo, Mystic Vibe, Seraphino