SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, MAR 15)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, March 15.

Race 1:

Class 2 Handicap - 850m
1st - Krisalo; 2nd - Our Special Star; 3rd - Rapid Tricia

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Thomas: “She is a funny horse. She has never performed well first-up at all. She always works well into her first race, but finishes ordinary. Whereas second or third-up, she is always on the job, you know. She won under a hands and heels ride. Look, she’s got potential. She is a horse who is still a bit immature and she doesn’t train on a great deal. She’s good for about three or four runs. We’ll probably give her another run, maybe in town, and then tip her and bring her back again. I think in her three wins she’s been 16-1, 25-1 and 16-1. Last time we tipped her out she was actually only supposed to be out for a month only for the simple reason that she doesn’t train on. But she was out there two weeks and got a stone bruise and an abscess in her foot, so she was out a long time more than we wanted.”

Jockey Nathan Thomas: “She’s got good second-up form. She probably just needed that first-up run and she drew bad. She was never going to be far away today in the small field. I was always going to get there, but she just took a little bit to pick them up. I was always confident in the run.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hazza Heart (A. Spinks) shifted out at the start and brushed Contested Bid (M. Speers). Near the 500m, Contested Bid (M. Speers), which had a tendency to lay in, shifted in, making contact with Rapid Tricia (M. Palmer), which became unbalanced. M. Speers, rider of Contested Bid, was advised to exercise more care. Our Special Star (M. Hellyer) laid in under pressure from leaving the 400m until near the 50m.


Race 2:

2yo QTIS Maiden Handicap - 1000m
1st - Rocky Habit; 2nd - Spiffing; 3rd - Clancy's Mountain

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mick Mair: “He’s a big horse. He’s a lot better than that too, but he is just green and he didn’t handle the track very well. He did control things though. Every-time they looked like they might come up to him Kenny (Pope) just asked him to do a bit more. He is a pretty good horse. A big horse is easier to train because you can do more with him. He’s come straight from being broken in. I’ve never had one do that before – come straight from breaking in to racing. He hasn’t had a spell. It’s unusual. He was ready to race. He was just doing everything right so we gave him his chance and he’s got the win.”

At the other end of the scale, Mair also had a word of warning for those who will be lining up against his Group 1 winner, Swiss Ace, in the Galaxy at Randwick on April 11.

Mair: “Yeah, Swiss Ace is back here at the moment. He’ll go to Sydney for the Galaxy. He’s doing very well. Terrific. He’s doing better than well.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
At the request of trainer R. Bradshaw, an inquiry into the late scratching of Tolawha’s Pride at 8.10 am was adjourned to a date to be fixed. Cattlerail (D. Lambias) was slow to begin. Spiffing (B. El-Issa) and Lord Danseur (D. Craven) both began awkwardly. Al Jo (K. Yoshida) and Gumpert (N. Thomas) made contact at the start when both horses shifted ground, and shortly after, Gumpert continued to shift in, further hampering Al Jo. Leaving the 600m, Bellavonane (S. Drake) commenced to race greenly and had to be steadied. Near the 450m, Dudasa (A. Spinks) hung in and shortly after shifted out, inconveniencing Top Messiah (R. Hinricks), which was following. Parlor Pink (N. Yamada) raced greenly in the home straight. Rocky Habit (K. Pope) shifted out when placed under pressure near the 200m. Spiffing, Dudasa (A. Spinks) and Top Messiah (R. Hinricks) all raced wide for the majority of the event. Spiffing lost its off-hind plate in running.


Race 3:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1000m
1st - Licence To Steal; 2nd - Orientelle; 3rd - Kenny's Magic

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “The horse was off for nine months. After her first two starts she was found to have a little chip in her knee – what they call a spur – which had to be surgically removed. The advice of the vets was that we should give her a nice four to six months out. So we just gave her all the time she needed and it’s worked wonders. It was very well ridden. Mandy (Radecker) summed it up. She spoke about it prior to the race. She decided she would just sort of try to sit outside something to keep it from getting over to the fence – get her out on to the better ground. She rode her perfectly, held her up, had a last dash and got away with it.”

Jockey Mandy Radecker: “Coming to the corner I wasn’t worried at all. When I got halfway up the straight ... she is just the sort of horse that gives you a lot of confidence. She is as light as a feather, but she travels strong so things panned out real well. It’s a nice morale booster for me because I’m just getting over a lung infection. I’ve had it for about three or four months and it really hit me hard the last two months. In fact it put me out of action for a month. I’m getting over it now ... slowly. A win always helps.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Circuit City (A. Spinks) and I’m All Yours (A. Badger) both began awkwardly and lost ground as a result. Kerry Road (W. Clasohm) and Licence To Steal (M. Radecker) brushed on jumping away when both horses shifted ground. Near the 800m, Licence To Steal (M. Radecker) became unbalanced and shifted in, crowding the room of Kerry Road, which had to be steadied. Passing the 700m, Mount Magic (M. Palmer) commenced to hang in and had to be steadied. Circuit City (A. Spinks) had a tendency to hang in for the majority of the event. Mount Magic (M. Palmer) and Well Kept Secret (R. Hinricks) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 4:

Class 4 Handicap - 2200m,
1st - Week Nights On; 2nd - Beau Sam; 3rd - Twinkling Star

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Jana Piper (who also rode two winners at the Saturday night): “The trainer left it up to me. He basically said to do whatever I wanted. The horse has got a good turn of foot and he can sprint, but this was his first try at the trip and he struggled a bit at the end. Yeah, I’m still having weight problems (a factor which has plagued Piper for some time). I rode 53.5kg last night which was my lightest. I rode 53.5kg my first week back. But I can’t get under 53.5kg yet. My natural riding weight is 54kg. I’m trying, trying. Hopefully next week I ride 53kg.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Twinkling Star (K. Yoshida), which was slow to begin, was further hampered when tightened for room between Week Nights On (J. Piper), which began awkwardly and shifted in, and Grungle (J. Jones), which shifted out. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Worthy Quest, A. Best stated that he was unable to gain cover throughout the running and as a result the horse over- raced for the majority of the event and compounded badly as a result. A post-race veterinary examination of Worthy Quest failed to reveal any significant abnormalities and a swab sample was taken. Following this event, the track rating was upgraded to Slow 6.


Race 5:

Maiden 3yo & Up Plate - 1400m
1st - Top Resource; 2nd - Dane Raider; 3rd -Will Impress

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Bradshaw: “The other day he got a long way in front and half-bolted. Today he led again, but he just sort of cantered in front. There wasn’t much speed. There was no pressure on him. He (Owen Turpin) rode a winner for me yesterday (Babinda Half). The kid listens to you. I think he will go a long way.”

Apprentice jockey Owen Turpin: “Last start I rode him over the mile without rings. There, I led them up by about eight lengths, swinging. Today, they decided to put rings on him because he is a horse with a very dead mouth. They also dropped him back in distance today and it worked, you know. He just travelled. He didn’t pull too hard. He was just keen on the bit and he found in the finish. I think he’s got a few more lengths in him still, so I think he is going to improve on that.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Royal Virtue was declared a late scratching at 12.50 pm after the filly was injured en route to the track. Trainer M. Flanigan was advised he would be required to produce a veterinary clearance for Royal Virtue prior to its next race start. Two Bibbody Bob (M. Hellyer) was slow to begin. Approaching the 1000m, Maali (D. Browne), which was racing keenly, had to be steadied when momentarily crowded by Wind Zipper (A. Pattillo), which shifted in. In this incident, Maali shifted out, forcing Kinda Modern (J. Piper) wider. Maali then commenced to over-race for a short distance. Near the 450m, Dane Raider (N. Thomas) commenced to hang in under pressure, proving difficult to ride out. Top Resource (O. Turpin) shifted out under pressure near the finish line, forcing Dane Raider wider. Will Impress (M. Radecker) and Kinda Modern (J. Piper) both raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 6:

Class 6 Plate - 1200m
1st - Sleepy Jackson; 2nd - Flying Squaw; 3rd - Chaufuhr

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Co-trainer Jason McLachlan: “He’s won six out of twelve now. You can’t argue with a fifty percent strike-rate. It would be nice to have a stable full of them. He had no luck in town the other day. You know, everybody says, oh well he wins up there (at the Sunshine Coast), but not in town. Well I’m convinced he is good enough to win in town. As he showed here, he’s looking for1200m now. We rode him like he was the best horse in the race. I said the Owen (Turpin), don’t let them head you ... I don’t care who they are. They weren’t going to come from behind and beat him, so we had to dictate things.”

This result gave apprentice jockey Owen Turpin a double on the day to extend his lead at the top of the Sunshine Coast Jockeys Premiership table.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Semi Wells (J. Brown) began very awkwardly and shifted out abruptly, almost dislodging its rider, and after losing considerable ground, took no part in the race. After hearing submissions from trainer N. Hocking and apprentice rider J. Brown, and taking into account the horse's unblemished record, Mr Hocking was advised that he would be required to produce a further barrier certificate for Semi Wells before the gelding is permitted to race again. Flying Squaw (A. Badger) began awkwardly. Lunch At Friscos (L. Rolls) raced three wide for the majority of the event.


Race 7:

Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Zsazsa; 2nd - Winxaarheart; 3rd - Spanglish

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Brent Evans: “I thought I’d be on the paint just inside Kenny Pope (Aboard Karalius), but I really didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be outside him and have him on the paint going through where it was a bit wet. But he ended up in front of me, and he was doing the hard work too on the inside, so I was happy, and the grey horse (Samsoon) took him on and put a nice bit of speed into the race. I just got held up at the top of the straight but, when I pulled him out, he flew. I’ve had three rides on him for two wins and a second. His wet form is not outstanding, but he is good enough in it. I mean last time in heavy going he’s run sixth or seventh, but he was only beaten by less than length (by Sinful Warrior at the Gold Coast).”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hootson (K. Yoshida) began awkwardly. Samsoon (O. Turpin) and Winxaarheart (E. Wilkinson) brushed on jumping away. Approaching the 400m, Zsazsa (B. Evans) improved onto the heels of Samsoon (O. Turpin) and had to be steadied, and then shifted out to obtain clear running.


Race 8:
Class 1 Handicap - 1600m
1st - Fulham; 2nd - Banana Split; 3rd -Classic Victor

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Crane: “I don’t think anybody else (other than Scriven) would have won on him. It was a big jump for him – 1200m to a mile – and a lot of weight. It was a big effort. The horse has got a lot of ability, but he’s green as grass. That’s why we wanted Shane (Scriven) to ride him because I really don’t think anybody else would have won on him today. The gap sort of half closed there so the horse needed all of the help he could get. That’s only his fifth race start. He is just so green, but once he has had this preparation and a bit of time to mature into himself, I might take those blinkers off next campaign so he can see a bit more. Yeah, but that’s why he (Scriven) is here for the ride. He is the best in the business. It’s just a shame you can’t have him on at 54kg.”

Jockey Shane Scriven: “I went for a gap which sort of half-closed on me. The inside horse was drifting out a little bit. My horse took a bit of winding up, you know, but once he got into full bore it was a good win. He is lightly raced and he is still learning. He’s a bit of a dummy really, but he will get better with racing – and probably a little bit further too. It made the trip worthwhile, thankfully.” (Fulham was Scriven’s only ride for the day).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stewards adjourned an inquiry to a date to be fixed into the reason for the late scratching of Spiritp Gentil (Trainer D. Murphy) at 7.53 am. Mr C. Morphy, trainer of Banana Split, reported to stewards that the gelding had removed its two front glue-on shoes and was unable to have them replaced. As a result, stewards granted Mr Morphy permission to race the horse in standard race plates. An announcement to this effect was made by the on-course announcer. Trainer Mr C. Morphy was fined $100 for presenting Banana Split to the enclosure with incorrect gear. Bellamour was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon at the barriers and found to be lame in the near foreleg. Bellamour was declared a late scratching at 4.47 pm .Trainer T. Miller was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Bellamour prior to its next race start. Fulham (S. Scriven) and So Long (N. Thomas) were both slow to begin. Count Ivor (C. Kearney) raced wide in the early and middle stages. Leaving the 400m, Fulham (S. Scriven) shifted out, making contact with Raining Kings (E. Wilkinson). Near the 200m, Fulham (S. Scriven) was momentarily tightened for room between Banana Split and Don’t Back Down (B. Thomson), both of which shifted ground. Approaching the finishing line, Fulham shifted out under pressure, resulting in Banana Split having to be steadied to avoid that horse's heels. S. Scriven, rider of Fulham, was advised to exercise more care. Slepner (M. Hughes) laid out under pressure in the straight, resulting in Lee Kova (O. Turpin) being taken wider on the track. Raining Kings (E. Wilkinson) and Slepner (M. Hughes) raced wide for the majority of the event.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
Horses swabbed pre race:
Bay Lady Pay, Worthy Quest, Twinkling Star, Fulham, Banana Split, Raining Kings.
Horses swabbed post race:
All winners, Our Special Star, Worthy Quest, Dane Ripper.