DOOMBEN REVIEW (SAT, MAR 14)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Saturday, March 14.

Race 1:

Open Handicap - 2100m.
1st - Take the Plea; 2nd - Angelo Minny; 3rd - Encosta Tszyo

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Wallace: “I told him (Owen Turpin) to put the pressure on. I said if they are walking, put it on. I just gave him a helping hand. I said to him just use your own brains ... and he rode him beautiful. He does ride very well. I knew the horse would stay and he can handle the wet, so I had no worries about that.”

Apprentice jockey Owen Turpin: “Mr Wallace said come out and see where you are, and from the 800m just ask him a little bit, you know, without rolling. The pace slackened and my horse is a one-pacer so I had to let him go. He finished off really well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hopeson (G. Baker) was slow to begin. Angelo Minny (A.Patillo) over-raced in the early stages. Near the 1700m, Fort ‘N’ Won commenced to over-race and was obliged to shift out off the heels of Winmara (K. Pope). Fort ‘N’ Won then raced three wide until entering the back straight.
Stewards sought an explanation from jockey K. Pope regarding the performance of Winmara. K. Pope stated that the slow pace of the race during the middle stages was to the detriment of his mount's chances, and that when the pace quickened from the 800m, Winmara was left flatfooted and only finished the race off fairly. The explanation was noted.


Race 2:

QTIS 2yo Handicap - 1010m.
1st - Manhattan Angel; 2nd - Emma's Heart; 3rd - Bevagna

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “After last week (where Manhattan Angle ran third to Sweepstaking), we were going to run her in a fortnight, then tip her out. There is a 1300m race next week. But then we decided we might back her up. The plan was, if we drew inside barrier eight we’d run here. We drew the one and decided to go with it. She’ll have a couple of weeks off now.”

Jockey Shane Scriven: “She’s lovely horse. From the first day Kelly (Schweida) put me on her, we didn’t really know what we had. But she is just such a professional, you know. She does everything right, just like a six-year-old. She ran into a smart one (Sweepstaking – who is unbeaten in two starts) the last couple. Today it looked a harder race with many chances. From the one alley we were able to give her the run of the race. The one barrier meant everything to her in the context of the race. She just keeps improving that little bit each start. She’ll go out now for a spell and get ready for later. She’ll be good to mark down as a three-year-old. She is just a beautiful animal.”

Emma’s Heart, who finished second, has had a bit wrap on her and her quest to earn a place in the Golden Slipper line-up. She was a beaten favourite first-time out and finished second here after finding some traffic problems in the running.

Trainer Bruce Brown (trainer of Emma’s Heart): She was ridden back today. That’s how she should have been ridden first-up. She would have won. They went too hard in front last time.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly (rider of Emma’s Heart): “The horse inside me just kept coming out and bumped me a bit, which didn’t help. We wanted to ride her quieter today and she obviously appreciated that.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Arcup (C. McIver) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, making contact with the hind quarters of Manhatten Angel (S. Scriven). Falvelina (K. Banks) jumped in the air as the start was effected. Both Swiss Rose (B. Stewart) and Duel Show (J. Bowditch) were both a little slow to begin. Near the 700m, Take Cover (C. Reith) had to be checked when tightened for room between Arcup (C. McIver), which shifted out off the heels of Manhatten Angel (S. Scriven) and Swiss Rose (B. Stewart), which was taken in by Brujita (J. Brown). Whilst stewards acknowledged the minor shift from Arcup, J. Brown was nevertheless reprimanded and advised to ensure she is fully clear when shifting ground in future. Emma’s Heart (B. Pengelly) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight, and near the 200m was impeded when attempting to take a run between the tiring Falvelina and Bevagna (K. Pope), which shifted out when racing greenly. Swiss Rose (B. Stewart), which was unable to secure clear running in the early stages of the straight, shifted out leaving the 200m and in doing so hampered the tiring Two Lipsticks (M. Palmer). Two Lipsticks, Brujita (J. Brown) and Our Mascato (L. Cassidy) raced wide for the majority of the event.
Stewards questioned jockey K. Banks in regards to the performance of Falvelina. K. Banks stated that the filly did not travel comfortably during running and when asked for an effort in the early stages of the straight, Falvelina did not stretch out and weakened over the concluding stages. K. Banks added that in her opinion, the filly failed to handle the rain affected track conditions.


Race 3:

3yo QTIS Handicap - 1615m.
1st - Spirto Gentil; 2nd - Macedon; 3rd - Bold Glance

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Murphy: “We got the horse from the David Hayes stable. I’ve had him six runs now. He’s very green. He’s still learning a lot. We’ve had the blinkers on for a couple of runs. Before that he was a bit shy and carrying on. He should have won both of those last two (when finishing second). It was unbelievable. He is a funny horse. He won’t race inside horses so, until he learns how to race properly, you sort have got to ride him that way so that he come around them and stretch out. So we are riding him to his strength at the moment.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “There was genuine speed up front which probably assisted our efforts. I said to Dave (Murphy) his last twenty yards were his best and that’s what has won him the race. I sure Dave will keep him in his class. He’s a nice horse but not a world-beater.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stewards acceded to a request from trainer L. Birchley to have the slow track ban lifted on Sirena Ligera. Golden Balls was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon prior to this race and cleared to start. Satula (K. Forrester) was slow to begin. Star Of Ombra (L. Cassidy) raced wide in the early stages. Near the 1200m, Hearty Laughter (M. Palmer) improved up on to the heels of Sirena Ligera (C. McIver) and had to be steadied. Sir Reason (O. Turpin), which was following, had to be steadied in consequence. Master Of War (G. Baker) and Macedon (R. Wiggins) raced wide for the majority of the event. Satula (K. Forrester) was held up and unable to improve round the home turn and in the early stages of the straight. Sirena Ligera lost its near fore plate in the running.


Race 4:

4yo and Up Class 6 Handicap - 1615m.
1st - Montoux; 2nd - Humma; 3rd - Bann Ruby

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Noel Doyle (who has not been at the track for either of Montoux’s last two city wins): “Oh, they’ve barred me from the track now. She gets the result when I’m not there. Bobby (El-Issa) seems to have just gelled with her. Last time when she ran fourth, he made a little bit too much use of her. He knew it wasn’t one of his best rides, but the horse does go well for him. He won on her the run before that. She drew the two alley again this time (the same alley as in her previous win) and Bobby rode the perfect race. This preparation has probably been her best. She has always shown a lot of ability, but, when she came to me from Melbourne, being my Montjeu, they all believed that she wanted 2100 ... 2200m. But that was not the case. She is only a light little filly ... oh well she’s a mare now ... and I sort of had to feel my way with her. Then I came to the conclusion, yeah well maybe over 1800m, but around a mile – 1600m, 1700m – she is very good. So next time she wins you’ll have to talk to me afterwards as well. They told me I’m barred now. I’m not allowed near her on raceday.”

Jockey Bobby El-Issa: “Last start she was a bit unlucky. I was sort of left in front a long way out. We won the race before that. Noel (Doyle) has got her going well. She likes the sting out of the ground. I think the key is just to show here a bit of TLC. She likes to pull in the race. You just have to talk to her and get her to relax. She won well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Simplex was declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at 11.35am after the gelding was injured in its float en route to the course. Rabbit Nagina (D. Coleman) was slow to begin. Shew Stone (R. Wiggins) commenced to over-race shortly after entering the back straight and near the 1000m had to be restrained from the heels of Seen’Em Comin’ (L. Cassidy). Near the finish line Punch Up (B. Stewart) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Bann Ruby (S. Scriven), which shifted in slightly.
Stewards questioned D. Coleman regarding the performance of Rabbit Nagina. D. Coleman stated that the horse was slow to begin and was reluctant to stretch out throughout the event. He added that when he placed the horse under pressure in the early stages of the straight, it commenced to hang in quite badly and did not finish the race off as expected. Trainer G. Yorke expressed his disappointment in the performance and could only offer the rain-effected track as an explanation for the poor performance. He undertook to report back to stewards any abnormality that may become apparent with the horse in the days following the race. A post-race veterinary examination of Rabitt Nagina failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Stewards sought an explanation from trainer Mr K. Kemp regarding the performance of Malela today. Mr Kemp stated that jockey Pengelly advised him that Malela felt short in its action. Mr Kemp stated that the horse had worked well leading up to today's event and was very disappointed with its performance. Mr Kemp further stated that he would send Malela for an immediate spell. Mr Kemp undertook to inform stewards of any abnormality that becomes apparent that may have had a bearing on the performance of Malela. A post-race veterinary examination of Malela failed to reveal any abnormalities.
A post-race veterinary examination of Bann Ruby failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 5:

CG&E Class 6 Handicap - 1350m.
1st - Come Said The Boy; 2nd - Kyros; 3rd - Feelin Dandy

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Nolan (Jnr): “It’s another El Moxie – now you can see why I like the breed. That’s my first winner on a Saturday in town, so it’s good to finally break the duck. I’ve run a few places, so that’s good. When the rain came I wasn’t that confident. He hasn’t handled a wet track at all in the past so I was really worried with the track being wet. It was an excellent ride. A beautiful ride ... the ride won the race for sure. It is very hard for a three-year-old to beat older horses, particularly under that sort of pressure on this going. I think you will find, hopefully, he will be a better horse back on top of the ground.”

The win gave jockey Bobby El-Issa a race-to-race double on the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed when the front gates of Hike’s stall opened prematurely. Hike (A. Spinks), Onion (R. Wiggins) and Five Ways (C. McIver) were all slow to begin. Come Said the Boy (B. El-Issa) over-raced during the middle stages. Near the 800m, Oscar Osetetch (S. Galloway) improved up on to the heels of Five Ways (C. McIver) and had to be steadied. Approaching the 300m, Hike (A. Spinks) was obliged to shift considerable ground wider on the track in order to obtain clear running. Near the 200m, Mr Doyle (M. Palmer) was momentarily impeded when tightened for room between More Than Regal (B. Evans) and Five Ways (C. McIver), both of which shifted ground. More Than Regal (B. Evans) and Five Ways (C. McIver) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 6:

F&M Class 6 Handicap - 1350m.
1st - Cool Edition; 2nd - Michelle Cafea; 3rd - Kentish Rose

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “I did say to him to ride it cold, but I didn’t think it would be that cold. I thought she’d just got no hope where she was. She not a bad filly this, and you can go further with her up to a mile. A mile will suit her better. We set this race for her. This was the race when she came back in that we targeted. A fillies and mares, Class 6, Saturday class race is her go. It’s been the race we’ve been looking at. Experience in the saddle counted here. He (Larry Cassidy) might not have been panicking, but I was.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “She blew the start and then she didn’t want to go at all. That was actually very similar to her first start this prep. Then in the second start when I got beaten, she was a different horse. She bounced and got onto the bridle. She was focussed. Today she wasn’t focussed, you know. It’s like there is two of them. Both of them are very good – but one of them can give you a heart attack!
“After blowing the start I thought, well we are back here now. There is no use panicking. She would not go at all early. She just didn’t want to take part. I guess we must have gone about three hundred metres before I finally got her to get on the bit and travel a little bit. I straight away thought, well, I know we are going to finish the race off, but whether we’d given them too much start of not was another thing. I wasn’t sure I’d won. I was that far out(on the track).”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Following the downgrading of the track to Slow 7, stewards acceded to a request from trainer R. Heathcote to scratch Crosswise from this event. Crosswise was declared a late scratching at 12.15pm, and the gelding now will incur a slow track bar. Cool Edition (L. Cassidy) and Savanna La Mar (C.McIver) were slow to begin. Kentish Rose (M Palmer) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Savanna La Mar raced wide throughout.
Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice Michael Palmer in regards to the tactics employed on Fasliyev Dancer today. Apprentice Palmer stated that he had been instructed to take up a forward position and he endeavoured to do so in the early stages, however a short distance after the start he was of the opinion he was going to be trapped three wide and therefore chose to cease his urgings in an endeavour to establish a position closer to the running rail. He added that shortly after, several runners from his outside proceeded forward of him, which resulted in him settling in a rearward position. Stewards recorded apprentice Palmer's explanation, however advised him that he may have erred by ceasing in his endeavours to obtain a forward position as early as he had on this occasion when he was in receipt of explicit instructions to obtain a forward position.
B. El-Issa, rider of Taj Paru was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in near the 1200m when insufficiently clear of Fasliyev Dancer (Michael Palmer), resulting in that horse having to be steadied. Fasliyev Dancer then commenced to over-race and did so until near the 800m.


Race 7:

Open Handicap - 1010m.
1st - Babinda Half; 2nd - Simplest; 3rd - Sequallan

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Bradshaw: “He hasn’t been ridden right before this. I told him (Owen Turpin) to ride hi m aggressively. He does what he’s told. That’s what I like about him - and that’s the result. I had the horse originally and then lost him when he was sold and went to Gai Waterhouse. It was very disappointing at the time, but we are on the bit now. He ended up going to four or five different trainers. They couldn’t get him going. I was the last resort. The syndicate that bought him, they pulled out during EI. They thought the horse was finished and wouldn’t come back. I sort of begged and pleaded with them, but, no, they put the white flag up. The rest is history. So now it’s owned by R. Bradshaw and P Lawrence.”

Apprentice jockey Owen Turpin (who completed a double on the day): “The trainer said I should be aggressive on him and keep letting him roll along. He said that I mustn’t hold him up. It was my first feel of him today and he is just a pure speed horse and you just got to let him do what he does best.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Felixtrinidad had to be resaddled prior to the running of this race. Near the 600m, Ra Sun (Ma. Palmer) had to be steadied when crowded for room by Heart (B. Evans), which was taken in Sequallan (J. Brown), which was receiving pressure from Simplest (L. Cassidy). L. Cassidy, rider of Simplest, was advised to exercise more care and afford his fellow riders sufficient racing room in future. Passing the 400m, Ra Sun had to be checked when tightened for room by Heart (B. Evans), which was racing tight to the inside of Sequallan (J. Brown), which was also racing in restricted room to the inside of Simplest. In all the circumstances, stewards took no direct action, however, advised all jockeys of their obligations to afford their fellow riders sufficient racing room. Mr Aristos (M. Hughes) shifted out under pressure in the home straight, resulting in Sectagonal (L. Rolls) having to alter course to the inside of that horse's heels near the 200m.
J. Bowditch, rider of Felixtrinidad was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 300m he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of How Good Is He (A. Spinks), resulting in A. Spinks, rider of How Good Is He, having to take a hold of his mount to avoid the heels of Felixtrinidad. J. Bowditch was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 18 March, and to expire at midnight, 29 March 2009.


Race 8:

NMW Handicap - 1200m.
1st - Eire of Magic; 2nd - Equates; 3rd - Overanxious

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Matthew Palmer: “Yeah, he settled pretty well. We had an alright run throughout and it was just basically a matter of getting in daylight because I know what he is capable of. My only association with the horse prior to this was in his previous start. As I said to David then, where-ever he goes. I want to ride him again. He’s got a big motor and good acceleration. He does do a few things wrong. He can want to hang quite badly. Through the run it’s not too bad. Once he sort of hits the front and there is no other horse around him, that’s about his only quirk. He becomes quite lazy then and not fully focussed and therefore is inclined to hang. There’s is no doubt about his ability which is what I really like most about him, and if he really goes straight he’ll be so much the better for it. It’s just a question of finding the right race for him and he’ll put a few more together I think.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prayer Chamber had to resaddled prior to the running of this race. Equates (L. Rolls) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with Paris Boy (R.Wiggins), which in turn shifted out and bumped De Business (S.Galloway). Fasdehere (R. Goltz) was tightened for room on jumping away between Eire Of Magic (M. Palmer) and On Bail (D. Craven), both of which shifted ground. Fasdehere raced ungenerously in the early and middle stages. Eire Of Magic (M. Palmer) shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages. Overanxious (B. El-Issa) laid in under pressure in the straight. Overanxious (B. El-Issa), Prayer Chamber (K. Forrester) and De Business (S. Galloway) raced wide for the majority of the event.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
Horses swabbed:
All winners plus Humma, Angelo Minny, Emma's Heart and Michelle Cafea.