DOOMBEN REVIEW (WED, APR 8)

A review of the meeting held at Doomben on Wednesday, April 8.

Track - Slow. Rail - Out 7.5m.

Race 1:

F&M Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - All Stellar; 2nd - Falling Star; 3rd - Cachaca

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Hearne: “She couldn’t win down a race in Sydney, so they said send it to a bloke in the bush and see what he can do with her. She’s had six wins now. But she’s run them nearly all in the bush, so I thought I’d bring her down town and give her a go just to see if she is up to midweek class. I think she is up to midweek class and she’ll get more ground later on. She’s won over 1300m before and I think she’ll win again over 1300m or 1400m in better company later on. I don’t come to town much. I’ve had two girl riders down here and they’ve had two winners for me. Amy on this one and Leanne McCoy won previously for me on a horse called Rangers.”

Apprentice jockey Amy Taylor (in conversation with trainer John Hearne): “She went great. That thing on the rail – at the half mile – it hit the rail right in front of me and swung out and I had to check.”

John Hearne: “I could tell the horse had its head up. I couldn’t make out why. Let it go Amy ... let it go, that’s what I telling you.”

Amy Taylor: “The horse inside me whacked the rail and come flung out. I just missed his heels, so I just clicked up outside him and just got the horse to relax again. It’s a game of inches sometimes. Just a little wobble can cost you, but she came through well this time and went on and did the job.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (All Stellar): 10.00 out to 12.00 in to 10.00.
Favourite (Miss Maggie): 3.00 out to 3.10 in to 2.70. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Miz Winfrey, which reared over in the barriers, was declared a late scratching at 12.53 pm on veterinary advice. A post-race veterinary examination of Miz Winfrey revealed the mare to have pulled its near-fore plate. The veterinary surgeon further reported that Miz Winfrey was sore in that foot. Trainer K. Smith was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance and two barrier certificates for Miz Winfrey prior to its next race start. Falling Star (C. Reith), which was slow to begin, was tightened for room shortly after the start between Trading (J. Bowditch) and All Stellar (A. Taylor), both of which shifted ground. When the pace slackened approaching the 800m, Fivegrand (B. El-Issa) improved up on to the heels of All Stellar (A. Taylor) and shifted out, making contact with Miss Maggie (M. Hellyer). A short distance later, Fivegrand (B. El-Issa) shifted in, resulting in Falling Star, which had improved to the inside, having to be steadied. Approaching the 750m, All Stellar (A. Taylor) over-raced for a short distance.


Race 2:

F&M Maiden Plate - 1110m
1st - Brookie Babe; 2nd - Sweet Magic; 3rd - Quingilly

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “It was her first run back (after a six month layoff). She just needed a good break. I thought she’d handle the wet alright. She’s by Falvelon ... some do, some don’t. Yeah look, she won a jump out the other day and she is going good.”

Jockey Shane Scriven: “The only reason ... well we didn’t lead ... but the only reason she can be up there like that is that she begins out of the barriers so good. She is not the fastest thing once she gets into her stride, you know, I really had to drive her. I think once she gets over a bit of journey she’s be a horse who can settle in third or fourth placing early. She travelled nicely ... got really relaxed. She sprinted good ... she sprinted good until those signs (pointing to a point about 100m out) but then I thought, well if anything’s coming at me ... she was starting to paddle a little bit. But it was a good effort.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Brookie Babe): 3.00 out to 4.00 in to 2.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start was delayed when Relative Velocity (K. Banks) proved difficult to load. Trainer T. Gollan's stable representative was advised that a further barrier certificate would be required for Relative Velocity prior to its next race start. Wasn’tme (J. Bowditch) and Quingilly (L. Rolls), which were slow to begin, were tightened for room shortly after the start between Sweet Magic (L. Cassidy) and Brookie Babe (S. Scriven), which shifted out. Relative Velocity (K. Banks) was slow to begin. Haylee Miss (A. Taylor) jumped outwards at the start, making heavy contact with Tuerta Lass (S. Richardson). Approaching the 300m, Our Ballet Dancer (R. Wiggins) was inconvenienced when Wasn’tme shifted out. Quingilly (L. Rolls), which was following, was also inconvenienced in this incident. Smartness (M. Hughes), Relative Velocity (K. Banks) and Midnight Passion (A. Pattillo) raced wide throughout.


Race 3:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Donny's Magic; 2nd - Over The Page; 3rd - Ruling Party

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steve Field: “That was his first run. I’m shocked. I’m shaking (with pleasure) ... I’m in shock ... I’m absolutely shaking. He’s a lovely horse. I knew he had more ability than he’d showed. In his first trial he finished a 22.00 lengths last. Then he trialled at Beaudesert the other day where he went better, but he was still second last. He did cruise a bit there while some of the others were under the pump, but I didn’t expect this. This is my first city win so it’s quite special.”

Apprentice jockey Luke Rolls: “It was his first run and he was always going to be a bit hesitant at the start. He began alright, but I was just sort of niggling at him the whole way to keep up with them. It was very green throughout the run. He was all over the shop, but once I put one behind the saddle he really found the line.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Donny’s Magic): 21.00 out to 31.00.
Favourite (Adashofspeed): 3.60 out to 5.50 in to 4.20. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sarsfield (S. Galloway), Lucy Bea (D. Craven) and All Lined Up (G. Baker) were slow to begin. Approaching the 100m, Donny’s Magic (L. Rolls) shifted out to obtain clear running and in doing so took Regal Prince (K. Banks) out on to Sarsfield. Over the Page (B. El-Issa) had a tendency to lay in over the concluding stages.


Race 4:

Maiden Handicap - 1650m
1st - Sweet Science; 2nd - Handy Hints; 3rd - Salcanro

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote (who enjoyed a change of fortune after his runners had finished second in the first two races on the card): “I can’t say too much about it because he has only been with me for three weeks. So obvious credit’s got to go to his previous trainer, and I think he has earned a bit of credit - Mr Bart Cummings. We’ll say he’s done a fair job up until now. I got the horse through really good owners, Les and Susan Smith, who have put a lot of money into racing all around Australia They are involved in the ownership of Mimi Lebrock, Sirmione, you know they’ve been to the top of the tree – Majorca, they own with me. They are just good people and they’ve got a nice horse here. They had a big opinion of him as a younger horse and perhaps he hasn’t lived up to it. But he may in future.
"Sometimes a change is as good as a holiday. I don’t know a lot about the horse. We are learning about him. He’s only been with me the three weeks, but he has done everything right. We took all the gear off him. Larry (Cassidy) just rode him a treat. So what can you say? He is a three-year-old. He has just won over a mile carrying 58kg on a slow track. He has clearly got some ability.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “He seemed to handle the track alright although he did slip a couple of times. I can’t say he didn’t handle it, I was just sort of thinking maybe ... maybe on top of the ground he would find a length. He is a grinder, but he might find a length on top of it. Distance-wise, he felt like he could have gone another lap. In saying that, it’s hard to tell whether they can further or not until you test them. The impression he gives you, is he will.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sweet Science): 2.25 out to 2.70.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Will Impress (M. Hellyer) raced wide in the early stages. Near the 1400m, All By Myself (S. Galloway), when racing in restricted room to the inside of Loves A Vino (K. Forrester), commenced to race ungenerously and shifted out, making contact with Loves A Vino, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. The Pocket Rocket (A. Erhart) raced wide throughout.


Race 5:

Class 3 Plate - 1650m
1st - Fat Possum; 2nd - Starsplash; 3rd - Another Speights

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “He was due ... he was overdue actually”. (Fat Possum had finished second three races in-a-row prior to this win). “In his last run he got back a little bit, but the two before that he raced on the pace. He just got outsprinted that’s all. He hasn’t got much turn of foot. With him leading today it was hard for the opposition to sprint around him. He still had to put it in down the straight though and he had a month between runs, so he did a good job.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy (who landed a race-to-race double on the day): “Look, I rode him about four starts ago on a heavy track and he didn’t handle it at all. I had a pretty tough run that day. He is the sort of horse if you are back behind a couple you better get out and get going, rather too soon than too late. I was going to get a nice run early and then when Hellyer (on Tenterfield) steadied, I was going to have to come back half-a-length. If I did that I would have to come out around them and chase at the 700m. I thought, I might as well lead. I thought, well, he’s happy bowling along like that so I’m better off letting him roll. I wasn’t going to look around in the straight, it might have changed my plans. I just kept my head down. He is still not comfortable in the ground. The way he was going, just rolling along – I think he’ll go further.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Fat Possum): 3.20 out to 4.00.
Favourite (Another Speights): 1.90 out to 2.40. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Another Speights (S. Scriven) was tightened for room on jumping away between Fat Possum (L. Cassidy) and Make Mine Cash (B. Evans), both of which shifted ground. French Move (J. Byrne) and Fly Misty (G. Baker) jumped away awkwardly. Near the 1000m, Mardi Magrar (L. Rolls) commenced to over-race and improved up on to the heels of Fat Possum (L. Cassidy) and shifted out, resulting in Tenterfield (M. Hellyer) having to be steadied to avoid that horse's heels.
When questioned, B. Evans, rider of Make Mine Cash, which compounded to finish a distance last, stated that the gelding did not feel comfortable at any stage during the event and when placed under pressure approaching the home turn failed to stretch out and commenced to tire shortly thereafter. Trainer R. Lipp advised stewards that he intended to spell the gelding immediately. A post-race veterinary examination of Make Mine Cash failed to reveal any abnormalities. Stewards ordered that Make Mine Cash must trial to the satisfaction of the stewards prior to its next race start.


Race 6:

CG&E Class 3 Handicap - 1200m
1st - So Shall This; 2nd - Swords; 3rd - What Is This

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Paul Nolan (Jnr): “Yeah, I wish they were all that easy. You could tell during the run he was going to be awfully hard to track down, you know. We had him in at Ipswich tomorrow, so we sort of put our heads on the chopping block coming here today, but it paid off. Every win we get from him is a bonus, because he really shouldn’t still be racing with those knees. He chipped his knees twice and the vets didn’t give him much of a prognosis, but, you know, he is now a four-year-old. He was always a ‘foally’ looking horse. Now he is a mature horse and his knees are good. Touch wood, this is his best preparation by far. The wonders of time!”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (So Shall This): 4.00 in to 3.40 out to 3.50.
Favourite (Swirling Moss): 1.70 out to 2.05. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Red Ferments (D. Craven) was slow to begin.
When questioned regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Swirling Moss, apprentice L. Rolls stated that the horse travelled well and approaching the home turn when placed under pressure, responded for a short distance, however then only finished the race off fairly. A post-race veterinary examination of Swirling Moss failed to reveal any abnormalities.


Race 7:

Class 5 Handicap - 1350m
1st - Gunsari; 2nd - Frisco's In Charge; 3rd - At The Roxy

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alicia Willick: “Last time he just couldn’t get to the front. If he can’t lead, he can’t win. He is just very one dimensional. If he can dictate things, that’s when he is at his best. All of his wins (this was win number six) have been when he has led. His previous two runs this prep were over 1200m which is too short for him, and just the fact that we haven’t been able to work him. All he can do is swim, so it has been hard to get him fit. That’s why it has taken a couple of runs to get a result.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Gunsari): 3.70 out to 4.20 in to 3.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
MR DOYLE (S. Scriven) and AT THE ROXY (D. Griffin) raced wide throughout.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
Bar:
Race 5. Make Mine Cash - Poor performance - Off. Trial - LR36(b)
Horses swabbed:
All winners, Falling Star, Swords