SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, FEB 01)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, February 1.

Race 1:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1000m
1st - Beautiful Memory; 2nd - Lots Of Allure; 3rd - Zameliha

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “She raced well first-up and then she just didn’t fire. She seemed to train off a bit. We gave her a couple of starts, but she didn’t fire. We then gave her a nice spell and she’s come back and she trialled very well at Deagon. She won a nice trial and sort of put the writing on the wall a bit. (Apprentice jockey) Michael Hellyer’s just transferred to me. That was his first winning ride for me. I put the feelers out for him and he was keen to come to Queensland. I think he has got a future. He is a well presented boy. I think he has got plenty of talent and, with a bit more learning, I think he can make the grade.”

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “First winner for the boss ... it was great. This horse galloped on Thursday and she worked really well. Pat (Duff) did tell me before the race that she was probably just a bit fat, but to give her every chance anyway and she might go on and win. She travelled beautiful around the turn. I peeled off around their backs. You know, when I asked, she went. She showed a real good dash. She was inclined to lay in halfway down the straight, but, um, I put the stick in the right hand, straightened up and just went away with it. She just probably knocked up a bit the last 100m, but she should go on with it. She’s only about seventy-five, eighty percent fit. She’ll win more races.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Beautiful Memory): 2.80 out to 3.20.
Favourite (Lots Of Allure): 1.80 out to 2.10 in to 2.05. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed due to Barramundi rearing in the barriers and having to be examined by the club's veterinary surgeon. Barramundi was cleared to start. A warning was issued to the connections of Barramundi regarding its barrier manners. Nobody’ s Friend (K. Cunningham), Barramundi (A. Badger), Manihi Freeze (M. Heagney), Brits Star (R. Hancock) and Elevarte (G. Baker) were all tightened for room at the start between Lots Of Allure (K. Pope), which shifted out, and Beautiful Memory (M. Hellyer), which shifted in. M. Hellyer, rider of Beautiful Memory, was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. Barramundi and Manihi Freeze both lost ground as a result of this incident. Approaching the 600m, Rock Our World (E. Wilkinson) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Beautiful Memory, which shifted in. M. Hellyer, rider of Beautiful Memory, was advised to exercise more care. Beautiful Memory was inclined lay in under pressure over the concluding stages. Near the 100m, Brits Star had to be steadied from the heels of Lots Of Allure, which shifted out. Elevarte (G. Baker) raced wide throughout, and Our Girl Giggles (D. Van Bekkum), which was inclined to lay out, also raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Barramundi revealed minor lacerations to the off hind stifle.


Race 2:

QTIS 3yo Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Rovert; 2nd - Regal Prince; 3rd - Grey Gem

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ray McCall: “We were a bit worried early in the straight (when Rovert was back behind a line of horses), but we knew if the run would come he would beat them ... but it was just a bit of a worry if he was going to get through them or not, you know. Well Brownie (jockey Damian Browne) rode the winner last time when we came second and he said if we had been where he was on the track, we would have won that day. But we were in on the soft part. So he (Browne) wanted to get on him as quick as he could.
“He was up to 1200m today. Maybe he’ll go 1300m ... he might even get 1400m. We raced his mother, Dancing Lou. She was flat getting 1000m. But her grandmother ... she started favourite in the Pelican waters here one day. She won at Doomben over 1350, so we might a still have a bit of leeway to work with distance-wise.”

Jockey Damian Browne: “I was never really worried. I did get held up a little bit early in the straight, but it was just a matter of getting some clear room. I knew I was on the best horse in the race and he was full of running. I just needed to be a little bit patient. As soon as I got clear running it was all over.”

Rovert’s breakthrough win came in his eighth start and followed on a run of three consecutive second place finishes.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Rovert): 1.55 steady.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Comeonwillie (G. Butler) was slow to begin. My Whippy (E. Wilkinson) began awkwardly and made heavy contact with Miss Attanagh (A. Pattillo), resulting in Miss Attanagh becoming unbalanced and shifting out across the heels of My Whippy and having to be steadied. Passing the 800m, Comeonwillie commenced to over-race and was forced to steady from the heels of Jester’s Flute (A. Spinks) and as a result shifted wider on the track. Comeonwillie then raced wide from that point. Tora San (M. Hellyer) was inclined to over-race for a short distance approaching the 700m. Near the 700m, Mr Whippy (E. Wilkinson), which was inclined to over-race, was tightened for room between Grey Gem (O. Turpin) and Squirmy (K. Cunningham), which shifted in. K. Cunningham, rider of Squirmy, was reprimanded. Approaching the 400m, Tora San was momentarily held up for clear running on the heels of the tiring Squirmy. Rovert (D. Browne), which was momentarily held up for clear running approaching the 400m, shifted out and in doing so made contact with Ferengi (N. Thomas), hampering that horse and forcing it wider on the track. D. Browne, rider of Rovert, was severely reprimanded in relation to this incident. Squirmy and Jester’s Flute raced wide throughout.


Race 3:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1400m
1st - More Than Primed; 2nd - Famous Cry; 3rd - Princess of Monaco

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Hill: “Yeah, he’s always shown a bit. He’s been a very delicate horse. He’s got a bit stronger this time in, but he has still got a lot of strengthening to do. He did go good at Magic Millions last time and has gone on with it here second-up, stepping up in distance, so he could measure up. We gave him that long layoff just to allow him time to develop. Last time in, like there’s not much of him now, but last time there was even less of him. He wasn’t flash at all, but he was still running fair races.” More Than Primed ended his last preparation with two runner-up finishes. “He’s got terrific breeding. Like everything out of the mare has won, and some of them have won good races too.”

Jockey Paul Hammersley: “He’s still putting it together this horse. He did well to take that gap. In the end he got there good. It’s good to go away with a win because this is my last Sunshine Coast meeting for a while. Next Sunday is my going away party so I won’t be coming up here.”

Paul Hammersley leaves Queensland on February 10 to take up a three month riding contract in Macau.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (More than Primed): 2.90 out to 3.10.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Blue Ego (M. Hellyer) and Free Bounty (D. Van Bekkum) were slow to begin. Approaching the 600m, Famous Cry (E. Wilkinson) shifted out to avoid the tiring Free Bounty (D. Van Bekkum) and raced wide from that point onwards. Leaving the 500m, Blue Ego (M. Hellyer) improved on to the heels of the tiring Free Bounty (D. Van Bekkum) and as a result was forced to check and shifted out, making contact with the hind quarters of Jacka (A. Pattillo), which also became awkward in this incident. More Than Primed (P. Hammersley) was held up between the 500m and 400m. All Spiced Up (O. Turpin), Breathin’ Easy (M. Radecker) and I’m All Yours (R. Hancock) raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Free Bounty revealed the gelding had pulled up slightly lame in the off-foreleg. Trainer K. Hill was advised that she must produce a veterinary clearance for Free Bounty prior to its next race start.


Race 4:

Class 3 Plate - 1000m
1st - Sleepy Jackson; 2nd - Sharufa; 3rd - Onasong

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Co-trainer Bruce McLachlan: “He is a good honest horse. He likes a bit of give in the ground and he likes the track here. I think he is basically a 1000m or 1100m horse. He just got beaten in a photo once before over 1200m, but this 1000m suited him and I think the shorter sprint is his go.”

Sleepy Jackson has now won four out of six at the track and is unbeaten in three starts over the track and distance.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sleepy Jackson): 2.20 out to 2,50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORTEXTRACT:
Sharufa (P. Hammersley) was slow to begin. Approaching the 700m, Craiglea Maiden (M. Speers) improved on to the heels of Sleepy Jackson (O. Turpin) and had to be steadied and as a result shifted in, tightening the running of Raspberry Licorice (R. Mason), which had to be steadied. Raspberry Licorice was momentarily held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Periander (M. Hellyer) and Miss Echelon (G. Baker) raced wide throughout.


Race 5:

Class 2 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Foreshore; 2nd - Sigurd; 3rd - Two And A Kick

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Miller: “For a horse that had over twelve months out with a bad leg, he’s won well today. He’s a hard pulling horse and he’s been a very hard horse to get fit ... a lot of swimming and just galloping him and racing. He’s only just recently got fit now, you know. Having said that I did think he was a bit unlucky last time. Today it came together.”

Winner (Foreshore): 3.20 out to 4.20.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Certiori (O. Turpin), which was slow to begin, was tightened for room shortly after the start between Rory’s Rapper (M. Heagney) and Benraggazo (A. Spinks), which was taken in by Backstroke (N. Thomas). Red Shadow (E. Wilkinson), which had a tendency to over-race approaching the 1100m, had to be steadied from the heels of Backstroke (N. Thomas) and shifted out, making contact with Two And A Kick (P. Hammersley). Approaching the 300m, Backstroke (N. Thomas) was momentarily tightened for room between Benragazzo (A. Spinks) and Tully Tenor (G. Baker). Leaving the 300m, Rory’s Rapper (M. Heagney) shifted out abruptly to avoid the heels of Maharishi (J. Kropp), which shifted in under pressure. Two And A Kick and Certiori raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Allanact failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 6:

Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Heartsun; 2nd - Waitaseq; 3rd - Pull The Wool

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Stewart Mackinnon: “It helps when three horses are withdrawn at the barrier, but I think he would have won anyway. He’s got a lot of raw ability. We’ll just keep going slowly. We’re not going to put any pressure on the horse for a while. We just trying to teach him to settle in his races. I think he’ll get 1400m to a mile later on. There’s no hurry.”

Jockey Damian Browne: “I don’t think it mattered too much what happened at the start. The whole objective today was to try and teach him a little bit. He’s still a big, green baby, but he’s got a bright future. He seems to loaf a bit when he gets to the front, but it’s how he got there that counts. I think he is going to be a class horse later on but, like I say, at the moment he is still a big baby with plenty to learn.”

The lightly raced Heartsun made it back-to-back wins here. The gelding has only run four times and remains unbeaten in two goes on the turf track at the Sunshine Coast.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Heartsun): 1.90 in to 1.70 out to 1.80.
The winner was the favourite. There was a 34c deduction on the win/place payout due to three runners being withdrawn at the start.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
La Bellashee became fractious in the barriers, lashed out and reared over in the barriers. Soulgen and Azzmy Witness, which were in adjoining stalls were injured in this incident. La Bellashee, Soulgen and Azzmy Witness were all declared late scratchings on veterinary advice at 3.29 pm. Trainer D. Heinemann was advised that he would be required to provide a barrier certificate and veterinary clearance for La Bellashee prior to its next race start. Mr G. Kennedy, trainer of Azzmy Witness, Mr M. Mair, trainer of Soulgen, were advised that they would be required to provide veterinary clearances for their horses. Vettori’s Image (A Spinks) and Logans Hero (S Apthorpe) were both slow to begin. Waitaseq (J Wood) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 7:

Open Handicap - 1200m
1st - Craiglea Warrior; 2nd -Feelin Dandy; 3rd - Watchyerback

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Fleming: “He hasn’t raced for a month that’s why he was back in distance. He had a hard run, but you know he is always going to fight. You can’t argue with nineteen wins. He’s been just great.”

Co-owner Stan Johnston: “He had a wide alley today and that was a pretty tough ask. He didn’t get cover either, which normally brings him undone. At the top of the straight I thought we were stuffed and the jockey would have thought that too. I said we are in trouble here, and I know the jockey was saying, we in trouble here.” Then, with a twinkle in the eye, ... “The last jockey who rode like that had to go to Victoria. He left.
“He really had to do it tough today. All credit to Peter (Fleming), our trainer. That was the horse’s nineteenth win and Peter’s trained him for most of those and he’s has a very close relationship with the horse. ”

Apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers: “Yeah, it was a real tough run. He normally wants cover, but we couldn’t get any today. I couldn’t do much from the alley. They were going too slow to snag him. He was a bit wide but, when I knew he wasn’t going to be able to get any cover, I just made the decision to go forward. We moved up and he just kept kicking, luckily for me.”

West Hawk, the mother of Craiglea Warrior, was put down during the week. She was over twenty years old.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Craiglea Warrior): 4.40 out to 7.50.
Favourite (General Patton): 2.50 out to 3.00. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start, Comic Echo (K. Pope) had to be steadied when tightened for room between Court Adjourned (J. Wood) and Longstreet (B. El-Issa), which was taken in by Slick Trick (M. Hughes).
Near the 1100m, Court Adjourned (J. Wood) and Noreil (R. Wiggins) both over-raced for a short distance. Craiglea Warrior (M. Speers) raced wide in the early stages. Leaving the 800m, Lombardy (P. Hammersley) was forced to steady from the heels of General Patton (C. McIver), which shifted in. A short distance later, General Patton (C. McIver) improved on to the heels of Slick Trick (M. Hughes) and had to be steadied and as a result shifted out, tightening Court Adjourned on to the hind quarters of Craiglea Warrior (M. Speers), which shifted in. Court Adjourned raced wide from that point onwards. M. Speers, rider of Craiglea Warrior, was reprimanded. Noreil (R. Wiggins), Watchyerback (B. Pengelly) and Lombardy (P. Hammersley) were all held up rounding the home turn. Lombardy then continued to be held up until leaving the 300m.


Race 8:

Class 1 Handicap - 1600m
1st - Starelie; 2nd - Damashqui; 3rd - Slepner

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Wakefield: “Did the shouts of the owners damage your eardrums?
“Things have been pretty ordinary on and off the track for a while now. We’ve just had a run of bad luck with horses coming out and different things that have happened, so I hope this is the change of the tide. She’s still green this girl, as your saw when she ran in halfway up the straight. I’ve only had her for three runs. She’s always given the impression that she’s going to shine over a further distance. It’s nice that everything went right today. The other day at Ipswich (over 1350m), it probably didn’t really suit here, but she had to have the run there in preparation for this today and to get this result.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Starelie): 7.00 out to 8.00.
Favourite (Damashqui): 2.50 in to 2.30. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
School Princess was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon at the barriers and cleared to start. Marquis De Roy (M. Palmer) was slow to begin. Sanctuary Red (M. Heagney), Grungle (P. Hammersley) and School Princess (E. Wilkinson) were all tightened for room at the start between Damashqui (D. Browne), which shifted out, and Elshamah (C. McIver), which shifted in. Starelie (R. Wiggins) raced wide in the early stages. School Princess (E. Wilkinson) was inclined to lay out throughout the race.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Elshamah, apprentice C. McIver confirmed his disappointment in the gelding, adding that Elshamah travelled well in the lead however failed to run on when placed under pressure near the 400m. A post-race veterinary examination of Elshamah failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Stewards intend to speak to trainer Mr L. Birchley regarding the performance of Elshamah.

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