DOOMBEN REVIEW (SAT, MAR 28)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Saturday, March 28.

Race 1:

Fillies & Mares NMW Handicap - 1200m
1st - Pimpala Gift; 2nd - Decibella; 3rd - Best Of Ceedee

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gordon Yorke: “The jockey (Luke Cumberland) is apprenticed to Kim Waugh down at Wyong. He’s been riding a bit for me. He is a really nice boy ... a thinking boy. He’s at the stage where he wants to turn around and he’s going to be a bit special, I think. So I asked him the other week, I said listen, where are you riding, and he said Newcastle. I said, there’s no future in that champion, jump on a plane. So he did. He’s a good boy, you know. I like good kids. I love letting someone have an opportunity in racing. All I said to him was, have your horse travelling. You know, he is thinking well enough to ride the horse ... don’t try and ride the race how I say, ride the horse how it feels ... and he just did it. He positioned it lovely and rode it how it felt, you know. I’m a little bit too patient with her, but this filly, if she holds together, maybe 12 months, 18 months from now, she’s got enough class to show me she could be a Black Type mare.”

Apprentice Luke Cumberland (who landed his second city winner – his first city success came at Rosehill on Harry Kay): “We jumped out well ... not as good as we sort of hoped. There was a bit more speed than we anticipated. We travelled nice and got on the fence and got a lovely run into it. The horse on the outside sort of steadied up on the turn. I was lucky enough to push a bit wider and got a good run in from there. She sort of kicked for about a hundred metres and that was good enough on the day. Yeah, I’d love to come back more often. I hope I get the opportunity.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pimpala Gift): 6.00 out to 7.50.
Favourite (Decibella): 3.80 out to 4.60 in to 4.00. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Jellicles (J. Taylor) jumped away awkwardly. M. Radecker the rider of Licence To Steal was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137(a) in that she permitted her mount to shift in near the 1100m when insufficiently clear of Flying Squaw (B. El-Issa) causing that runner to be taken in onto Midnight Surprise (App O. Turpin), which in turn tightened the running of Gun Belle (L. Cassidy), which lost its rightful running. M. Radecker's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of seven (7) meetings to commence midnight 29 March 2009 and to expire midnight 9 April 2009. N. Thomas the rider of Where’smine was reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift in near the 800m, resulting in Flying Squaw having to be steadied to avoid that horse's heels. Jellicles over-raced in the middle stages. Decibella (App A. Taylor) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. Where’smine (N. Thomas) and Flying Squaw raced wide throughout.
Stewards questioned App A. Taylor in regards to the tactics employed on Decibella, in particular the reasons for her allowing Pimpala Gift (App L. Cumberland) to cross and obtain a position forward of her near the 800m. App Taylor stated that she had been instructed to ride the horse off the speed as per its usual racing pattern as connections harboured concerns that if Decibella was to take up a handy position it would be unable to finish the race off. Stewards recorded the explanation.
Midnight Surprise (App O. Turpin) lost an off-fore plate in running.


Race 2:

2yo QTIS Handicap - 1110m
1st - Bevagna; 2nd - Fab Fevola; 3rd - Bella Sirena

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mick Mair: “She won on her debut (at the Sunshine Coast) which is always good. Then I brought her to town. She went down to a fair horse (Manhattan Angel). That run was good last time. She probably should have nearly won. The horse fell over getting off the float today. Lost a bit of bark, but it was nothing. I’ve cut myself worse shaving.”

Apprentice Michael Hughes (who rode his second city winner – the first was Mr Aristos): “We had a bad gate. I was instructed to go forward. I got caught out on a limb. We settled just behind the leaders. In the run home I concentrated on keeping her in a straight line, because she is still green, and she knuckled down and won really well.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Bevagna): 8.00 in to 7.00 out to 7.50.
Favourite (Fab Fevola): 3.50 out to 3.60 in to 2.70. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Bevagna which suffered an abrasion en route to the course, was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start. Rocky Habit (K. Pope) jumped in at the start and made heavy contact with Promo Girl (J. Byrne), resulting in that horse shifting in and tightening the running of Mr Tracey (B. El-Issa) and Airworthy (J. Taylor). Fab Fevola (L. Cassidy) jumped out at the start and made contact with Bouncin' Back (App B. Evans). Bouncing’ Back commenced to race greenly approaching the first turn and after passing the 800m shifted out making contact with the hind quarters of Promo Girl resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Bevagna (App M. Hughes) raced wide in the early stages. Near the 600m Bouncin’ Back which had continued to race greenly, shifted out tightening the running of Mr Tracey. Bouncin’ Back then shifted out despite the efforts of its rider and had to be steadied off the heels of Promo Girl. Trainer J. Dorrington was advised that Bouncin’ Back must trial to the satisfaction of stewards prior to racing again. Rocky Habit and Promo Girl raced wide throughout. G. Heinrich the trainer of Airworthy, which finished a distant last, advised stewards that she would give the colt a break from racing to be gelded. Trainer M. Mair reported that the Rocky Habit was shin sore in both fore-legs following the event. M. Mair will be advised that Rocky Habit will require a veterinary certificate of fitness before its next race start. Airworthy lost a near-hind plate in running.


Race 3:

Open Handicap - 2020m
1st - Honour Happy List; 2nd - Take The Plea; 3rd - Pay Me

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Olivia Cairns: “What a good run. I’m so pleased with the result over the longer distance. It wasn’t that I didn’t think she’d get the extra, it was just that she hadn’t really been trained for it. She is a little bit of a mess to train, but we understand each other. I’m the boss at the end of the day, but we do have our days where she can be a bit of a mess. Eventually, I would like to end up down here. (Cairns is currently based in Townsville). It’s just you’ve got the have the right opportunity at the right time. I’ve got to be happy with the way things are going. That’s my fourth win since we moved horses down in November ... and we’ve had a few close seconds.
“This mare ... I really think this mare should have won her last four now. (This was Honour Happy List’s second win in-a-row). The last four runs she should have won. The day she got beat a nose Owen (Turpin) only claimed half-a-kilo on her (instead of his 3kg allowance). In the next start Danny (Craven) rode her and he was in exactly the same position he was last week, but he opted to go out instead of staying on the fence. It cost her the race. That was the day Go Cart won. She’s been pretty unlucky. That’s why I couldn’t work out why she was $26 last week (when she won over 1600m). We are a bit stuck in the middle now. Whether or not she handles the next step is another thing. I’m just not certain she’s up to the grade of the Carnival here, you know. So we’ll probably take her home for a rest and then head to something like the Rocky Newmarket first-up ... that’s 1300m. Then I guess the Townsville Cup will be on the programme, no doubt.”

Apprentice jockey Luke Rolls: “I was very confident because the horse was travelling really well. It was a great run really, nothing got in the way.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Honour Happy List): 4.20 in to 3.80 out to 4.00.
Favourite (Sam’s Express): 4.00 out to 4.20 in to 3.80.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sam’s Express (App B. Evans) jumped away awkwardly. Pay Me (A. Pattillo) and Rabbit (App L. Cumberland) made contact shortly after the start. Leaving the 300m Intheway had to be steadied off the heels of Honour Happy List, which shifted out to improve.
B. Calkin the rider of Intheway pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137(a) in that he permitted his mount to shift in near the winning post on the first occasion when insufficiently clear of Honour Happy List (App L. Rolls), forcing that runner in onto Winmara (J. Taylor), which lost its rightful running. B. Calkin's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of seven (7) meetings to commence immediately and expire midnight 8 April 2009.


Race 4:

Class 6 Handicap - 1615m
1st - Humma; 2nd - Eddie Rapido; 3rd - Plenty Of Practise

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “A lovely ride. He’s a good horse. I was amazed with one of the publications that said, we’re not sure if Humma will handle the dry track - he’s been suited on the wet tracks. Well three weeks ago ... or three runs ago ... I had to call Chris Waller (Humma’s previous trainer) to see if he handles the wet track and they said, no. So I thought he was nearly as good a thing that I had going around for a while. He dropped weight on Montoux, he had the one draw, he had Cassidy on board, he’s on a dry track. In fact I think he is probably better off ridden a touch colder and coming with the rush. But, when you got barrier one at the mile start you’ve got to use it. He hasn’t run a bad race in the half-dozen races he’s had since he’s come up here. I just wish they’d send more of those Sydney horses up here.”

It would seem that the horse pulled up better than the trainer. Rob Heathcote looked to be decidedly delicate in his stride as he moved towards the winners’ enclosure.

Rob Heathcote: “I’ve got stress fractures of both my tibias. I went to the doctor and he said lose some weight and get fit. So I went out ... and I’ve given up alcohol and eat salads, go running ... and now I’ve got two F&%$£ broken legs and I haven’t slept for three weeks, so I’m going back on the piss. Seriously, I’ve been in a lot of pain for two weeks – but that (the win) does help ease the pain. That will buy a few pain-killers."

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “Yeah, I got the right run. The main thing is ... obviously he missed the start a little bit, so mainly I just wanted to get him out and on his way a bit without revving him up to much. We were able to do that. Then it was just a matter of extracting him on the turn. I wanted to get out of there, but I didn’t want to do a left hand turn because I thought then I might not be riding for the next few weeks. When the run came we took it. They pressured him all of the way, but the one thing was he did find and just kept on finding.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Humma): 4.60 out to 5.50 in to 4.80.
Favourite (Hike): 3.80 out to 4.00 in to 3.80. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Onion was declared a late scratching at 1.58 p.m. by order of stewards acting on veterinary advice when that horse sustained an injury to the off-fore foot. Dawn’s Pride (D. Browne) and Hike (S. Scriven) were slow to begin. Eddie Rapido (C. Reith) over-raced in the early and middle stages. A post race veterinary examination of Bann Ruby (App J. Jones), which raced wide throughout, failed to reveal any abnormality. A post race veterinary examination of Cassardi (S. Galloway) revealed the horse to be sore in the off-fore leg. Trainer B. Smith was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness must be produced before Cassardi is permitted to race again.
Following the running of this event S. Scriven the rider of Hike made an official complaint against the starter of this race Mr I. Smith. After taking evidence from BTC Starter J. Roberts, Assistant Starter I. Smith and jockey S. Scriven, stewards found that shortly before the start was effected S. Scriven voiced concerns to the Starter regarding Hike leaning on the rear gates. Assistant Starter Mr I. Smith explained that whilst he responded to S. Scriven's request to hold, he was of the opinion that Hike had been led forward and was in a position to jump away with the field and therefore effected the start. Stewards accepted the explanation tendered by Assistant Starter Mr I. Smith and took no further action.
Stewards considered an official complaint from Assistant Starter I. Smith concerning comments made by S. Scriven directed towards him shortly after the start was effected. S. Scriven pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct and was subsequently fined the sum of $1,000.00, of which $500.00 is to be suspended for a period of twelve months acting under the provisions of LR36(h).


Race 5:

Colts, Geldings & Entires NMW - 1200m
1st - Morning Colours; 2nd - Worth Doing; 3rd - Overanxious

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Guy: “Last time it was the bad draw that took him out. That’s all his drawn mate, terrible draws. If you go back to his run at the Gold Coast behind Zero Rock, he’s got beaten by a top filly in a good time. The horse has got a lot of ability, but he’s got no luck with barriers. Today again he had to take on that disadvantage. He was four and five deep along the back. He was three deep after that. But he produced his own today. We know he can do it because he is that sort of horse. He’s just been unlucky with the barriers, that’s all. He would’ve won a lot more races than this. The bloke who owns half of him, (trainer) David Hayes, he’s over there with his horse (Niconero) in Dubai for the big one at the moment. David bought him for Ronnie (Wanless) and then stayed in him himself. He won one race up at Gawler and then Ronnie sent him up to me and said, see what you can do with him up here. He’s gone through his grades now. David’s one of the best payers. He pays his bills. Because he is a trainer, he knows we are all desperate!”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “I was still very wide early after the jump (from the bad barrier) and it was either take a hold of him and come back or sort of push him forward. I had ringing in my ears that Bryan didn’t want me to go back. So I thought well I’ll push you forward and if it works out, it does. If it doesn’t, well, it’s Bryans fault not mine – and then it worked out, yeah.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Morning Colours): 6.00 out to 6.50.
Favourite (Sleepy Jackson): 3.00 out to 3.50 in to 2.90. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sir Teles (B. El-Issa) and Malita (App A. Taylor) were both tightened on jumping away between Cyclone Larry (J. Taylor) and Mohawk (S. Drake), which began awkwardly and shifted out. Worth Doing (Matthew Palmer), Cyclone Larry, Mohawk and Morning Colours (L. Cassidy) all raced wide throughout. Near the 600m Count Henry (S. Galloway) improved to the inside of Cambooya (S. Scriven) where there was doubtful room and had to be steadied. Sir Teles (B. El-Issa), which was momentarily held up on the heels of Shadancer (M. Radecker) near the 200m, was unable to obtain clear running inside the final 100m. Shadancer was unable to obtain clear running over the concluding stages. A post race veterinary examination of Suntanned (App Michael Palmer) revealed the gelding to be sore in the right hind leg. Trainer M. Hassam was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness must be produced before Suntanned is permitted to race again.


Race 6:

Fernando Pascual Tribute Class 6 Plate - 1350m
1st - Save A Buck; 2nd - Frosty; 3rd - Five Ways

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Hardy: “He’s never been beaten second-up. I knew he was going okay. I brought him up for his first-up start only because I had to. The tracks down there were too wet. He had a bad draw that day (seventeen out of seventeen), but I had to bring him in to give him a run. He’s done well since he went back home (to Coffs Harbour). I reckoned he was a good chance today. I told Jimmy (Byrne) just to get him back, travelling and make one sprint, because that’s all he’s got. He can sort of really sprint when you let him down, but he won’t go far. He hasn’t got a long sprint, so you’ve just got to time it. He’s a good little horse. That’s six wins from seventeen starts. He’s only missed prize-money once, that was when I brought him up the other day. I might take him down to the Tamworth Cup. That’s over 1400m on April 28. It’s a $70 000 Cup. We might go there.”

Jockey Jim Byrne (who was back in the winners’ enclosure for the first time following a lengthy, injury-enforced layoff): “I had a little bit of pressure early from runners to the outside, but the horse worked throughout pretty good and is pretty relaxed. You know, he’s the sort of horse that likes to hit the line late. You can’t get to the front on him too early, so I kind of tried to time my run perfectly on the horse. When he did hit the front, you know, he kept on accelerating today so I was very, very pleased. It’s really good to be back. I’m really happy with that.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Save A Buck): 4.80 out to 5.00 in to 4.80.
Favourite: (Frosty: 3.00 out to 3.60.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stewards considered an objection lodged by App L. Rolls the rider of Frosty declared third against Five Ways (D. Browne) being declared second placegetter on the grounds of alleged interference in the home straight. After taking evidence from all parties and viewing the official patrol footage stewards established that near the 100m Five Ways shifted out forcing Save A Buck (J. Byrne) out onto Frosty. Stewards were comfortably satisfied when considering the nose margin between Five Ways and Frosty that the contact initiated by Five Ways was sufficient to warrant a reversal of the placings and therefore the protest was upheld.
Sir Kingsford (A. Pattillo) was slow to begin.
Three Swallows (Matthew Palmer) and Save A Buck came together on jumping away. Shortly after the start Five Ways (D. Browne) and Sir Kingsford bumped. Stewards intend to open an inquiry into the reasons why My Limit (S. Scriven) lost ground near the 1000m.


Race 7:

Open Handicap - 1110m
1st - Mr Hornblower; 2nd - Black Ink; 3rd - Simplest

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tracy Green: “He just gets better as he gets older. It doesn’t matter what pressure they put on him. This is the best he has ever, ever been. He came up too quick. I had him pegged for a run on April 18, but I had to do something with him before then ... I couldn’t hold on to him any longer. The draw didn’t worry me. I knew he would be better off out of the way because he takes the furlong to muster some speed. He knows where the line is.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: ’’He’s a genuine horse, he races really well here, and Tracy (Green) knows him inside out and he’s just a pleasure to ride. He helped me. I just had to ease him at the start and sort of ride for a bit of luck and it all opened for me. The run was full of merit.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Mr Hornblower): 17.00 out to 21.00.
Favourite (Simplest): 3.10 out to 3.40 in to 3.30. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mr Aristos (App M. Hughes) and Simplest (L. Cassidy) were slow to begin. Hurl (App A. Taylor), Simplest, Fire Hazard (B. Calkin) and Ra Sun (Matthew Palmer) all raced wide for the majority. Shortly after straightening Kelly (J. Taylor) shifted out taking Momentously (B. El-Issa) out onto Hurl (App A. Taylor). Cocktail Supreme (D. Browne) which was held up for a short period approaching the 200m was again held up for clear running inside the final 100m. A post race veterinary examination of Babinda Half (App O. Turpin) revealed an injury to the near fore suspensory. Trainer R. Bradshaw will be advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness will be required prior to Babinda Half racing again.


Race 8:

3yo QTIS Handicap - 1110m
1st - Chakvetadze; 2nd - Hyde Park; 3rd - Bruleur

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Nolan: “We just had a few niggling problems after her first prep (where Chakvetadze recorded three wins from three starts). We just gave her some time off. When she came back for her next prep she had an injury then and we just had to give her more time. You can never get a guide to her work-wise. She is just such a lazy track worker. At one stage there in the running today, I wasn’t certain whether he (Brent Evans) had given the fence up or not. I wasn’t sure and I thought, if he has given it up .... well, he hadn’t. She settles so well for the speed she’s got. She is a lovely mare. It was really a soft win in the end.”

Apprentice jockey Brent Evans: “I had the two options, come back or go forward. I was happy just sitting where I was. I didn’t really want to bring her back any further. She was relaxed where she was. So, yeah, I stuck to the rails run. She is a smart horse. When I asked her to go ... did she ever! She just took off.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Chatvetadze): 2,00 steady.
The winner was the favourite. It was the only favourite to win on the day.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Rapid Trica (App L. Rolls) and Alphonse (K. Pope) were crowded for room on jumping away between Salice (App C. McIver) and Zahite (K. Yoshida), which shifted out. Hyde Park (J. Byrne) laid in when placed under pressure in the straight. Zahite and Salice raced wide for the majority of the event. A post race veterinary examination of Tie Hand (C. Reith) failed to reveal any abnormality.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning licensees:
Reprimands:
Race 1. N. Thomas - Jockey - Careless riding - AR137(a)
Fines
Race 4. S. Scriven - Misconduct (AR85A) - $1,000.00 ($500.00 suspended 12 mths - LR36(h))
Suspensions
Race 1. M. Radecker - Careless riding - 7 meetings - AR137(a)
Race 3. B. Calkin - Careless riding - 7 meetings - AR137(a)

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
Horses swabbed:
All winners plus Five Ways, Fab Fevola, Black Ink, Eddie Rapido, Bevagna, Decibella, Hyde Park

Warnings/bars
Race 2. Bouncin' Back - Raced greenly - Barrier trial - LR36(b)
Race 2. Rocky Habit - Shin sore both-fore legs - Vet. Certificate - LR36(b)
Race 4. Cassardi - Sore off-fore leg - Vet. Certificate - LR36(b)
Race 5. Suntanned - Sore right-hind leg - Vet. Certificate - LR36(b)
Race 7. Babinda Half - Injury to near-fore suspensory - Vet. Certificate - LR36(b)