EAGLE FARM REVIEW (WED, FEB 11)

A review of the meeting held at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, February 11.

STEWARDS SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT EXTRACT:
From Ipswich Turf Club, 6.2.09
The connections of Dubbus advised that a post race veterinary examination of the horse revealed an injury to its off eye, which they believed was caused by being accidentally struck by the whip of another rider over the final 300m.


Race 1:

3yo F&M Handicap - 1200m
1st - Strong Spirit; 2nd - Lindo Falcao; 3rd - Tell'em It's Easy

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Strong: “She ran fifth here the other day which was disappointing. Had the run of the race, pulled out, but didn’t get to the line well. So that’s why we changed our approach.”

Jockey Scott Galloway: “We changed the tactics and rode her back. She’s been up on the pace and just not finishing off, you know, this time in. So we tried it another way. She relaxed early and the speed was good. Then they slowed up and then got going again and that really suited her as she started rolling into it from the 500m. She just finished it off well from there.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Strong Spirit): 5.00 out to 7.00
Favourite (Persuadeandpossess): 1.80 out to 2.40. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to the race, trainer P. Strong approached stewards and advised them that connections had been disappointed with the way Strong Spirit had finished off its races recently and advised that, due to the wide barrier, the instructions were to have the jockey ride the mare back in the field. An announcement to this effect was made over the on-course PA system. Persuadeandpossess (S. Scriven) was difficult to load and was fractious in the barriers. Paula’s Hope (A. Pattillo) was slow to begin. All Join Hands (N. Thomas) and No Fear Of Heights (A. Taylor) came together and bumped on jumping away. Jester’s Flute (D. Craven) over-raced in the early stages when racing wide. Approaching the 800m, Lindo Falcao (L. Cassidy) improved up on to the heels of Persuadeandpossess and had to be steadied. No Fear Of Heights hung out leaving the 600m, resulting in the horse becoming unbalanced for a short distance. Leaving the 300m, Lindo Falcao (L. Cassidy) shifted out to improve and doing so bumped Ignition Miss (M. Paget). Persuadeandpossess was inclined to lay out under pressure over the final 200m. Strong Spirit (S. Galloway) was inclined to lay in over the final 200m, which resulted in Lindo Falcao having to alter course across the heels of Strong Spirit near the 100m.


Race 2:

3yo C, G & E Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Supreme Best; 2nd - American Gangster; 3rd - Catchment

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Wilson: “We didn’t have the horse for its first run. We’ve only had it for a couple of months now. He’s had tendon problems, so we’ve just been working him through them. We’ve just been poking along with him – nice and steady. We decided to put the blinkers on just to make him switch on.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “Yeah, we got out nice. When the other one came up to him around the bend, I gave him a dig and he was just a bit new. Then in the straight I thought I’ve got to keep him going because if I back off on him, he is going to back off. He kept going strong across the line. The trainer did a good job there.”

Taylor was referring to the fact that Supreme Best was racing first-up following a seventeen month layoff. Somebody took their chances on the gelding, as indicated by the betting fluctuations.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Supreme Best): 6.00 in to 2.70.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Dapper was declared a late scratching at 11.10 am when the horse was found to be lame after it sustained an injury due to a plate shifting en route to the course. Connections were advised that they would be required to provide a veterinary clearance for Dapper prior to its next race start. The start of this race was delayed due to Costa Delight proving difficult to load. American Gangster (C. Reith) and Comeonwillie (B. El-Issa) was slow to begin. Leaving the 800m, Catchment (B. Stewart) improved up on to the heels of Costa Delight (T. Pannell) and had to be steadied. American Gangster over-raced in the early and middle stages of the event, which resulted in the horse racing wide from the 600m. Near the 600m, Comeonwillie shifted out to improve and in doing so forced Dubai Storm wider on the track. Comeonwillie was then obliged to race wide for the remainder of the event.


Race 3:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1300m
1st - Nothin Leica Rapid; 2nd - No Hurry; 3rd - Flash Romeo

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Hill: “It showed a lot early and then the last prep she was ordinary. It’s just been disappointing at different times and really good at other times. This prep she is starting to get things right. Still doing things wrong, but starting to get things right so that’s encouraging. She probably wants a bit further as well, you know.”

Jockey Terry Treichel: “In previous starts she’s always just got back a bit too far out of its ground. We just hoped to be in front of a couple from the jump. She got away ok and it was probably the best she’s ever travelled. Coming to the corner, the thing of McLachlan’s (Famous Cry) was the one I thought I had to beat, so I followed it out. It wasn’t going that well, so once I got a bit of room I moved out and we went past it pretty easy - and she kept finding the line good. Being on top of the track instead of in the mud, I think she went a lot better for it.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Nothin Leica Rapid): 10.00 steady.
Favourite (No Hurry): 2.50 out to 2.70 in to 2.60. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gruff (A. Pattillo) and No Hurry (B. Pengelly) came together and brushed on jumping away. Famous Cry (E. Wilkinson), Incendio (L. Cassidy) and Biscay Rocker (Michael Palmer) were all tightened for room on jumping away between Flash Romeo (C. Reith) and Nothin Leica Rapid (T. Treichel), which shifted out. Near the 1000m, Famous Cry (E. Wilkinson) over-raced at the heels of No Hurry (B. Pengelly). Nothin Leica Rapid was held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Biscay Rocker (M. Palmer) tired badly over the final 300m, finishing a considerable distance from the remainder of the field. Trainer P. Balzen was instructed that he should restrict Biscay Rocker’s program to the provincial circuit until the horse's form shows significant improvement.


Race 4:

Class 4 Handicap - 1000m
1st - Falco Star; 2nd - Single Bound; 3rd - Jad

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “Early in his career he just showed that much ability, we thought we could just box seat on this. It just took us a long time to realise he is more of back-marker horse. He goes much better ridden off the speed. Chris (McIver) rides him exceptionally well. You’ve just got to relax him early. You do need a bit of luck because he gets back, but he does hit the line quite well.”

Apprentice jockey Chris McIvor: “They went a bit quick. It normally gets back a little bit. I just jumped out and took a sit on it. The whole way through the race he just got a nice run up the rail. We tracked up and at the last minute we just pulled out. It wasn’t that hard to do. He changed gears really quickly.”

Interestingly enough, the owners of the gelding have now enjoyed a run of five consecutive wins with trainer Liam Birchley. Three runners have contributed to this exceptional winning sequence. They are Falco Star (2 wins), Fear No Other (2 wins) and Irish Singa.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Falco Star): 2.90 out to 3.20.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Best Of Ceedee was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon prior to the race and cleared to run after the horse sustained minor injuries en route to the track. Apprentice B. Evans, rider of Brer Fox, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 700m he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Morcombe, resulting in apprentice Bogenhuber, rider of Morcombe, having to check the momentum of her horse. B. Evans was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 14 February, and to expire at midnight, 25 February 2009. Near the 50m, Single Bound (L. Cassidy) and Falco Star (C. McIver) came together and brushed. Brer Fox raced three wide for the majority of the event.


Race 5:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1500m
1st - Young Cried Wolf; 2nd - Blue Ego; 3rd - All Show

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “He was a little bit on notice this horse because we were a little bit worried about his ticker. But I said to John (owner John Fish), after his last run, I said I think we are riding him a bit too close to the speed. I said to young Chris (McIver), I said, look, don’t panic whatever you do ... just let the horse do what he wants to do. I think you see then, when you ride a horse upside-down the difference it can make. As trainers, we have to learn to know our horse and sometimes it takes a while to get there.”

Apprentice jockey Chris McIver (who completed the first Metropolitan double of his career): “It was very much like the previous winner. I just had to sit there and ... you’ve just got to be patient. Just sit, sit, until you really have to go for him. We were a little bit unlucky at the start. We got cut out a bit. But it all worked out for the best anyway. Sat midfield, settled beautiful for me and everything went my way. Then found another gear and won easy.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Young Cried Wolf): 3.30 out to 5.00 in to 4.80.
Favourite (Taimazon): 4.00 out to 4.60 in to 3.70. Finished ninth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Young Cried Wolf (C. McIver) was hampered when tightened for room on jumping away between Dance Request (J. Taylor) and Kindroon (A. Erhart), both of which began awkwardly and shifted ground. Blue Ego (E. Wilkinson), which was slow to begin, was crowded on jumping away between Trictaat (M. Palmer) and Taimazon (S. Seamer). Mada (K. Banks), Kindroon (A. Erhart) and Taimazon (S. Seamer) both over-raced in the early stages. Mary’s Halo (R. Stewart) raced wide in the early stages. Near the 400m, Mada shifted out to improve, resulting in Kindroon and Taimazon making heavy contact. K. Banks, rider of Mada, was advised to exercise more care. Leaving the 400m, Mary’s Halo was tightened for room when racing between Mada and Verre Elite (B. El-Issa), which shifted out to improve. Tora San (M. Hellyer) was also inconvenienced in this incident. B. El-Issa, rider of Verre Elite, was advised to exercise more care. Blue Ego had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early stages of the straight. Taimazon bled during the event. Trainer B. Wakefield was advised that Taimazon will be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.


Race 6:

F&M Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Queen Of Asia; 2nd - Seething Duck; 3rd - Cat Dazzle

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Amy Taylor (who landed her twentieth Metropolitan win which reduces her future claim from 3kg to 2kg): “It’s a real stiff filly. I gave her a warm-up before the race, but it still took her half the race to get going. At the top of the straight I thought, whoa, it’s wasn’t going through the gap. But I got it through the gap and then got up next to Brad (Pengelly on Seething Duck) and I thought it wasn’t actually going to fight him – but when I started shouting at her she just went.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Queen Of Asia): 1.90 out to 2.70.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Reonmay (B. El-Issa) and Miss Streetem (M. Hellyer) came together on jumping away. Seething Duck (B. Pengelly) and Future Impact (Michael Palmer) were tightened for room on jumping away between Monicablinco (O. Turpin) and Miss Courtly (C. Reith), both of which shifted ground. Seething Duck (B. Pengelly) over-raced in the early and middle stages, and approaching the 600m, improved up on to the heels of Miss Courtly (C. Reith) and shifted out, forcing Reonmay (B. El-Issa) wider on the track. Reonmay raced wide in the early and middle stages. Near the 700m, Miss Echelon (Matthew Palmer) improved up on to the heels of Queen Of Asia (A. Taylor) and had to be steadied. As a consequence, Ana Me Cori (J. Taylor), which was trailing, shifted out, forcing Cat Dazzle (S. Bogenhuber) wider on the track. A short distance later, Ana Me Cori was tightened for room by Cat Dazzle when that horse hung in.


Race 7:

Class 3 Plate - 1500m
1st - Tipsy Piggy; 2nd - Fat Possum; 3rd - Notre Amour

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “She was well-weighted in that race at set weights. If she couldn’t win that, we were in trouble.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “She can be difficult to ride. The main thing was I just wanted to get away smartly from the number one barrier. The thing is she can be a bit of a slouch. You don’t want to dig her too much because she can over-race, but, if three or four of them went and then they pulled up and I was box-seating, it could have been awful. So I was happy to pop one off the fence and once I got to where I wanted to be, I thought it was all over because we were able to control it. She has been a handful in the past, but I think she is getting better. Yeah, she is getting better.”

Strapper Brendan Simpson: “She is a real handful. She just won’t stand still. I had to walk her for two hours before the race. I did the same at Doomben last time ... but she has got ability.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Tipsy Piggy): 1.80 out to 1.85.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Origun Roll (A. Taylor), which began awkwardly, was tightened for room shortly after the start between Viking Storm (S. Seamer) and Daphne Ellen (C. McIver), both of which shifted ground. When being eased to take a trail near the 1000m, Fat Possum (S. Scriven) struck the heels of Tipsy Piggy (L. Cassidy).


Race 8:

C, G & E Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Cyclone Larry; 2nd - Mollington Grange; 3rd -Bald Eagle

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Darryl Gollan: “He’s always been a handy little horse. He’s always been thereabouts. If he had drawn a good alley today, I most probably would have thought that he wouldn’t have been a dark horse in the race. He had a bad alley, but he’s raced up to what he normally produces. Like he ran third to Kneel And Raise and it won at a Saturday meeting. It also ran third to that horse of Len Bryant’s (Sir Kingsford) and it won at a Saturday meeting. So he ran right up to that form.”

Jockey Jason Taylor (who completed a double on the day): “He got tugging a bit in the middle stages. They sort of steadied the pace a bit. Then, just prior to the corner, my saddle slipped up its neck. It knuckled, because the saddle was on its neck. I thought, oh, I’m in a bit of trouble here. So I’ve had to jump out pretty wide. I was just lucky that, once we sort of managed to get into the straight and I gave the horse a press, the saddle seemed to slide back into position. I thought, oh, I’m alright now. He kicked strong in the finish, so all credit to the horse. Things did go wrong but he kept it all together and went well.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Cyclone Larry): 9.00 out to 13.00.
Favourite (Mollington Grange): 2.25 out to 2.80.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ladross was declared a late scratching at 4.16 pm on veterinary advice after the gelding was found to be lame in the off foreleg. Trainer P. Facoory was advised that he would be required to produce a veterinary clearance for Ladross prior to its next race start. Alioop (C. Mciver) blundered on jumping away. Mr Braveheart (T. Treichel) began awkwardly. Voodoo Brown Magic (M. Hellyer) and Just The Rock (R. Stewart) came together on jumping away. Near the 1000m, Mollington Grange (B. Pengelly) was tightened for room when racing between Alioop (C. McIver) and Rosco’s Circus (L. Dillon), which was taken in by Just The Rock. Jockey R. Stewart, rider of Just The Rock, and apprentice L. Dillon, rider of Rosco’s Circus, were reprimanded for allowing their mounts to shift in. Passing the 700m, Mr Braveheart was crowded for room when racing between Tuqiri (L. Cassidy) and Toperna (R. Mason), which was inclined to hang out. Leaving the 600m, Cyclone Larry (J. Taylor) blundered when that horse shifted out across the heels of Just The Rock. Mollington Grange was held up for clear running on entering the straight until leaving the 200m. Near the 200m, Just The Rock was momentarily crowded for room when racing between Rosco’s Circus and Cyclone Larry, which was inclined to lay in under pressure. Alioop (C. McIver) had difficulty obtaining clear running in the straight until inside the 100m. Leaving the 100m, Mollington Grange and Bald Eagle (Matthew Palmer) came together and brushed. Apprentice C. McIver, rider of the 7th placegetter, was reprimanded for failing to ride his mount out right to the finish line. Werockit (B. El-Issa) raced wide for the majority of the race.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed
All winners, Linda Falcao, Blue Ego, Taimazon, Seething Duck, No Hurry