SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, APR 19)

Before moving on to the Sunday review, a brief word about what could be an important winner at the Saturday night meeting at the Sunshine Coast on April 18.

The Bruce and Jason McLachlan trained Facile Tigre scored by 7.50 lengths on debut at the Cushion Track meeting. The manner in which the son of Catbird announced his arrival on the scene attracted plenty of attention. Most importantly, jockey Eddie Wilkinson, who has the experience and know-how to be able to label a good horse when he sees one, was in awe of the two-year-olds performance. For the record, this is what trainer and jockey had to say about Facile Tigre’s superb start to his career.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “He is a superstar. That’s all I can tell you. He is exciting. We won by seven and we still had plenty up our sleeve. He is a special horse. He will be going straight to town and he’s probably ... not probably ... he is a carnival horse. He is an absolute professional. He jumped. He went. I said, come back. He came back. He just did it all.”

Co-trainer Jason McLachlan: “He is a very nice horse. He has always shown us plenty. Unfortunately he didn’t get a run in town. He was the fifth emergency. He’s got a long way to go yet. He’s only won a two-year-old Maiden, but I wouldn’t swop him for too many.”

Now to the review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, April 19.

Track - Heavy 8. Rail - Out 6m.


Race 1:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1600m
1st - Will Impress; 2nd - Dave The Dude; 3rd - Markhee Miss

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “He was always going to go forward (from the wide barrier). He’s raced in that pattern most of his races. He’s been racing very consistently. He deserves the win. I think he is a horse that has got some sort of future. He probably not a very mature horse at this stage. He is a well-bred horse. He is bred to get over 1800m to 2000m. I think, as he gets a bit of age on him, that is just what he will do. Kenny (Pope) rode him well, but I really think it was just an easy race for the horse today.”

Jockey Ken Pope: “Just went forward from the draw. We had a lovely run in front. One came with me, but it really didn’t faze him, you know. The other one didn’t fire us up or anything. We were going the speed we wanted to go ... and my horse had enough to keep going. He was just too strong for that field.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Will Impress): 4.80 out to 5.50.
Favourite (Dave The Dude): 2.10 out to 2.50 in to 2.00. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Miss Mazaratti (Apprentice M. Millford) and Dave The Dude (L. Cassidy) were slow to begin. Stalwart Garza (Apprentice J. Piper) began awkwardly, shifted out and made contact with I’m All Yours (Apprentice O. Turpin), then a short distance later shifted in and made contact with Well Kept Secret (Apprentice R. Hinricks). Morgan Factor (R. Wiggins) raced wide in the early stages At the 1350m Stalwart Garza (Apprentice J. Piper) had to be steadied off the heels of I’m All Yours (Apprentice O. Turpin), which shifted in. Near the 1200m Markhee Miss (Apprentice M. Hellyer) commenced to over-race, laid out and made contact with I’m All Yours (Apprentice O. Turpin). Markhee Miss continued to lay out for the remainder of the race and again at the 500m hung out and made contact with I’m All Yours. At about the 1000m Morgan Factor (R. Wiggins) shifted in resulting in Lala La Vin (E. Wilkinson) having to steady momentarily to avoid that horse's heels. Leaving the 500m Interest (A. Pattillo) improved up onto the heels of I’m All Yours (Apprentice O. Turpin), which was tiring, and had to be steadied. Flamboyance (S. Galloway) and Well Kept Secret (Apprentice R. Hinricks) raced wide until rounding the home turn.
When questioned as to the reason for Dave The Dude travelling back in the field, Jockey L. Cassidy explained that this was the first occasion on which the horse had raced with blinkers. He said that it had been his intention to race just off the speed, however Dave The Dude did not begin well, raced very greenly and failed to respond to his riding. He added that he then elected to settle the horse where it was racing comfortably during the event. Stewards noted the explanation.


Race 2:

3yo Maiden Handicap - 1200m
1st - Duke Of Danes; 2nd - Chicken Dinner; 3rd - Acting Up

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Davin Green: “He goes nice this horse. I didn’t think he would win that easy ... but I thought he would win, yeah. He’s bred to handle the wet and the soft going – and he did that. He is still a little bit green. He was running around a touch down the straight. I was on him in his previous start. He was unlucky not to win that day. At the 300m I got squeezed up, you know, quite badly. He’s probably given the winner about four or five lengths at that stage and he only ended up getting beaten by two. It wasn’t that far. He’s hopefully going to keep improving.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Duke Of Danes): 4.80 out to 5.00 in to 3.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After being placed in the barriers Itsa Punt (S. Richardson) broke through, was quickly recaptured, examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to take its place in the field. Trainer Ms L. Thomson was advised that a warning had been placed on the gelding's barrier manners. In the early and middle stages Red Bullet (Apprentice B. Evans), Century Rock (W. Clasohm) and Hudsons Hornet (A. Merritt) raced wide. Duke Of Danes (D. Green) was slow to begin. At the 750m Rubydoobydoo (Apprentice A. Taylor), which was racing ungenerously, shifted in, resulting in Cubby House (Apprentice M. Hughes) having to steady momentarily. Leaving the 500m Itsa Punt (S. Richardson) and Hudsons Hornet (A. Merritt) were tightened for room when Cubby House (Apprentice M. Hughes) rolled in. Near the 50m Itsa Punt (S. Richardson) had to steady off heels.


Race 3:

3yo Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Happy Rhythm; 2nd - Hudson Grey; 3rd - Altissimo

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Petersen: “He was second-up here. The first run gave us a hint he was on the job. With the races that have been called off, he had virtually five weeks between runs, you know. He was favourite at Ipswich on Wednesday (that meeting was abandoned). He only had to handle the ground today to win. I was never worried about the wide barrier. I was only worried about the ground.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Happy Rhythm): 2.50 in to 2.00 out to 2.10.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After being placed in the barriers Flower Chariot broke through, dislodging Jockey P. Wolfgram and completing a circuit of the track. Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Flower Chariot at 12.45 p.m. Connections were advised that a barrier certificate must be provided prior to Flower Chariot being permitted to race again. Connections of Hudson Grey reported that the horse returned with lacerations to its off-hind .This was confirmed by a Veterinary Inspection, which revealed that the injury was superficial. At the start Tarmons (B. Stewart) shifted out and made heavy contact with Hudson Grey (S. Galloway). Billkay (R. Wiggins), Happy Rhythm (T. Pannell) and Altissimo (L. Cheshire) were slow to begin. In the early and middle stages Billkay (R. Wiggins) and Happy Rhythm (T. Pannell) raced wide. Leaving the 50m Because I Am (Apprentice R. Hinricks) was tightened for room between Billkay (R. Wiggins), which shifted out, and Sequalora (Apprentice M. Hellyer), which shifted in. Stewards advised Jockey R. Wiggins to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Apprentice M. Hellyer was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Because I Am. Apprentice Hellyer was also reminded of his obligation under A.R. 137(b) to ride his mount to the finish.


Race 4:

4yo & Up Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Once More Brother; 2nd - Dai Kon; 3rd - Road From Heaven

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Kenji Yoshida: “He deserved to win. Last start was on the Cushion Track. He just never handled the Cushion Track. You know, two starts ago (when first-up) his form was pretty good. He didn’t like the soft going that much today, so he will be better on top of the ground.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Once More Brother): 5.00 steady.
Favourite (Dai Kon): 2.00 out to 2.50. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Whilst parading behind the barriers Road From Heaven reared, dislodging its rider, Apprentice N. Yamada. Road From Heaven after travelling a short distance was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start. At the start Mega Mountain (R. Hurley) shifted in and made contact with Costplus (Apprentice R. Hinricks). On jumping Dai Kon (E. Wilkinson) and Tekke Bokhara (S. Galloway) were tightened for room between Tabooba (M. Radecker), which shifted out, and Genuine Sin (Apprentice G. Butler), which shifted in. In the early and middle stages Alfindo (Apprentice M. Hughes) and Dai Kon (E. Wilkinson) raced wide. Approaching the 700m Genuine Sin (Apprentice G. Butler) raced wide for some distance. Leaving the 700m Alfindo (Apprentice M. Hughes), which was racing wide on the track, rolled in and tightened Costplus (Apprentice R. Hinricks), which was racing to its inside. Near the 300m Alfindo (Apprentice M. Hughes), rolled in and made contact with Once More Brother (K. Yoshida), which was racing to its inside. A post-race veterinary examination of Alfindo (Apprentice M. Hughes) revealed that the horse was sore in the offside fore-leg. Connections were informed that they must furnish a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to Alfindo being permitted to race again.


Race 5:

Class 1 Handicap - 850m
1st - Crazy Woman; 2nd - King Of The Kongo; 3rd - Crystal Rocket

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bill Trimble: “Isn’t she just so consistent? Seven starts and she has got a cheque every time. Might not have had many wins (two), but she is a real consistent filly. She has got a couple of little problems. She just spits the bit out after she straightens up. It’s cost us the last ... probably four races. But hopefully we’ve got her over it. We’ve decided now that as soon as she straightens up she’s got to have a few put around the bum, to wake her up and keep her mind on the job. Yeah, she did move around a little bit in the straight. That was under the stick. Once you pull the stick and put a few around her ... as soon as she starts to take off, she’ll move, but then she’ll keep straight after that. She deserved her win.”

Apprentice jockey Jana Piper: “I gave it a couple around the arse out of the gates – when they opened – just to get her mind right and get her galloping. There is no room for error over the 850m. You have got to get them running. Bill (Trimble) took the blinkers off her the start before and I said, just put them straight back on. So we put the blinkers back on and I just fired her right up. In the straight she wanted to lay in towards the inside, so I put the whip in the other hand. She finished off strong.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Crazy Woman): 5.00 out to 5.50.
Favourite (Sweet Cherub): 2.00 in to 1.95 out to 2.35.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Marjo (Apprentice M. Hellyer) jumped awkwardly and was slow to begin. At the start Crazy Woman (Apprentice J. Piper) shifted in, taking Sweet Cherub (Apprentice A. Taylor) in onto Cometapappa (Apprentice B. Evans). At about the 800m Sweet Cherub (Apprentice A. Taylor) had to steady away from the heels of Crazy Woman (Apprentice J. Piper) and in doing so rolled in and made contact with Cometapappa (Apprentice B. Evans) which was also steadied. At an inquiry into the incident stewards reprimanded Apprentice J. Piper for allowing her mount to shift in when insufficiently clear. At the 400 metres King Of The Kongo (M. Wood) laid in.
Stewards opened an inquiry into the apparent disappointing performance of Sweet Cherub (Apprentice A. Taylor). After taking evidence from Apprentice Taylor and Trainer Mr B. Baldwin, stewards adjourned the inquiry to a time and date to be fixed. A post-race veterinary examination of Sweet Cherub revealed that the horse was slightly lame in the off-foreleg.


Race 6:

Class 6 Handicap - 1000m
1st - Abirra; 2nd - Wigndove; 3rd - The Boxer

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Wilson: “That was a good effort with that weight ... with 58kg. We don’t give Jason (Taylor) any instructions. He knows the horse so well. He’s ridden the horse on a number of occasions. We didn’t take a claim. We wanted to give Jason the ride and then see where we were with him, you know. We respect his opinion a fair bit. He knows the horse, so we wanted to see where we were with him at the moment. We’ll see what Jason says and then we’ll decide where we’ll go next. There are plenty of races out there for him. It is just a matter of how high we step him up.That was originally our plan this preparation ... to give him a couple of lesser class races and then sort of go for the bigger one ... and then drop back again. It’s more about winning prize-money. He’s unbeaten this prep, so it’s good isn’t it?”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Abirra): 2.70 out to 4.20.
Favourite (The Boxer): 4.60 in to 3.60. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Courtyard Circle (Apprentice N. Yamada) and True Flyer (K. Yoshida) were slow to begin. The Boxer (Apprentice M. Speers) was slow to begin. In the middle stages Fleeting Echo (Apprentice S. Bogenhuber) raced wide.


Race 7:

Class 1 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Stawell Dash; 2nd - Dispurser; 3rd - The Lording Dragon

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steven O’dea: “He was impressive when he won his Maiden (at Doomben, two runs back) and last start at Ipswich he made nice ground to the line and wasn’t really tested. I was pretty keen about him today. The bigger track suits him and he handled the slight step up in distance on a heavy track. I think he will probably get further as well. As I’ve said before, he is a horse that has taken a long time to switch on and put it all together. He used to do a lot of things wrong. He was a very immature horse, but his last three runs he’s put it all together and he’s starting to show some potential. Yeah, Ryan (Wiggins) and I are travelling well together at the moment. He comes to the track and rides a bit of work for me ... puts in the work ... so I am only too happy to reward him with rides. It’s a two-way street. Things are going well.”

Jockey Ryan Wiggins: “I’ve been having a bit of luck with Steven. He’s horses are going well. The horse was always in charge today. He was a bit unlucky last start. He’s a nice horse. I think he can go to town and win on a Saturday. I ride a fair bit of work for Steve. Since he has moved here permanently I’ve been starting to ride work for him. I think I’ve had about five rides for him for three winners and two seconds.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Stawell Dash): 3.00 out to 3.20 in to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REORT EXTRACT:
Debraith (Apprentice J. Piper) was declared a late scratching, at 3.11 p.m.) by order of the stewards acting on veterinary advice. Dispurser (B. Swanton) was slow to begin. On jumping Stawell Dash (R. Wiggins) and The Lording Dragon (Apprentice M. Hughes) made contact. Leaving the 900m the saddle on Fantastic Carat (N. Thomas) slipped, placing Jockey N. Thomas at a disadvantage in riding his horse, obliging him to ease his mount to the outside of the field and retire it from the event. Near the 600m The Lording Dragon (Apprentice M. Hughes) improved up onto the heels of Sweet Addiction (A. Pattillo) and had to be steadied.


Race 8:

Class 1 Handicap - 1400m
1st - Yamarjie; 2nd - Timecall; 3rd - Renegade Dancer

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Laura Cheshire (who made the most of a pick-up ride in the absence of Bobby El-Issa): “The horse is just a natural back-marker. She hasn’t got a lot of early speed so I thought, if I could give her a bit of a dig out of the gates she might stay in contact. We ended up in a good enough spot ... I was three wide early, but then I managed to get in one-off. Coming around the turn, I’ve sort of been a bit tight for a gap and I’ve gone for a gap that’s been pretty marginal. She’s only a small horse, but I knew if I didn’t get through that gap I wasn’t going to win the race, so we took it on. We got through and then she fought hard to the finish. She is a good little horse. She is only a tiny horse but she does try hard. I ride her in all her work and I’ve ridden before in races, so I do know her well. I rode her last time at Ipswich and then they said, well we’ll put Bobby on next start. Bobby didn’t show up, so I got her back!”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Yamarjie): 7.00 out to 8.50.
Favourite (Winxaarheart): 5.00 steady. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
At the start Lucky Landing (A. Merritt) jumped in onto Electric Lass (S. Galloway), which was taken in on to Lee Kova (T. Treichel) which was inconvenienced. In the early and middle stages Diamond Del (Apprentice B. Evans), Timecall (L. Cassidy) and Black Dakota (K.Yoshida) raced wide, then approaching the 800m Black Dakota commenced to over-race and shifted out. Optimist Prime (Apprentice J. Piper) raced erratically from the 600m. Near the 350m Yamarjie (L Cheshire) when attempting to take a tight run between Optimist Prime (J. Piper), which was tiring and racing awkwardly, and Renegade Dancer, made contact with Renegade Dancer (K. Pope), turning that horse outwards, and in turn rolled out and made contact with Optimist Prime. After inquiring into the incident stewards took no direct action other than to note it as a racing incident. At the 150m Iglesia Fair (Apprentice O. Turpin) rolled out and made contact with Lucky Landing (A. Merritt), which had to be steadied. Shortly after this incident Apprentice Turpin directed his mount to the inside to avoid Optimist Prime (Apprentice J. Piper), which was racing erratically. Stewards interviewed the connections of Optimist Prime and advised them that the horse must perform to the satisfaction of the stewards in an official barrier trial and that following such trial they must furnish a veterinary certificate to verify the soundness of the horse to race. At the 100m Lee Kova (T Treichel) broke down and was subsequently euthanased on humane grounds. Optimist Prime (Apprentice J. Piper), which was following, took evasive action to avoid the injured horse .


Race 9:

Open Handicap - 1400m
1st - Crowning Force; 2nd - Noreil; 3rd - Morning Colours

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bevan Johnson: “I only watched the two races before this and they were making up ground on the inside, so we kept the rail as an option. We had to go where we got the room, but we were happy to look for an inside run and that was handed to us. They gave us plenty of room and he killed them in the end. He had very good country form in New South Wales before we got him. He came to me mid-last year. We ran him a bit and then he was just ready for a blow. There were no issues or anything. He just needed time out. So we gave him a blow and this was his fourth run back.”

Jockey Shannon Apthorpe: “I thought the fence ... the fence didn’t feel any worse than the outside of the track. They were still getting home on the fence. We had the opportunity to get the run there. I felt pretty confident once we got to about the 500m. We were travelling nice. We just needed to get that run, so we rode for a bit of luck I suppose, but they ended up leaving the rail open for me. The horse still had to put in the effort, but he felt really good all of the way. He turned around after pulling up after the race and he wanted to take off coming back in, so he was really feeling good. He was my only ride for the day. That made it worthwhile. I went to Brisbane for one yesterday and it run last, so this result made up for yesterday.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Crowning Force): 15.00 steady.
Favourite (Morning Colours): 1.50 out to 1,70. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
At the start Longstreet (T. Treichel) had to be steadied when crowded for room between Crowning Force (S. Apthorpe) and Chance Bay (Apprentice L. Rolls), which jumped inwards. In the early and middle stages Lusting (Apprentice B. Evans) raced wide. At the 300m Noreil (L. Cheshire) rolled in and tightened Lusting (Apprentice B. Evans), which was racing to its inside, and a short distance later Noreil rolled in again and tightened Morning Colours (L. Cassidy).


Race 10:

Class 2 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Laurels; 2nd - Spanish Kiss; 3rd - Bumper Harvest

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “Bryan (Guy) wanted me third, one-off the fence. When the gates opened he just sort of sat there and was a bit flat-footed. So I didn’t get there early. I didn’t panic. I sat a bit worse than midfield. But then, I tell you, he was the luckiest horse that ran around because all the runs just came when he needed them. Coming into the straight I was up behind the leaders and I was just waiting to see what Mandy (Radecker) was doing on her horse (Licence To Steal) and she pulled off and went straight off the fence. Bryan did tell me the horse was probably just a bit fat still – probably just a little bit underdone – but they were confident of him putting in a good result. We saved the ground and he really let down. He showed a real nice turn of foot to get to the front, then wacked away and got there.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Laurels): 4.00 steady. Equal favourite.
Equal favourite (Ladros): 3.80 out to 4.00. Finished thirteenth (last).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Rothera was a late scratching at 8.15am. Trainer Mr M. Currie will be asked to explain the reason for the late withdrawal of the horse. Laurels (Apprentice M. Hellyer) was slow to begin. Bonza Bronze (S. Galloway) began awkwardly and shortly after the start was tightened for room and taken out onto Topkapi Palace (R. Wiggins) by Navigation (P. Wolfgram), which jumped outwards. Near the 1000m Gold Rating (Apprentice N. Yamada) had to be steadied when tightened for room when racing to the inside of Midnight Surprise (Apprentice R. Hinricks), which was taken in by Laurels (Apprentice M. Hellyer), which in turn was taken in by Topkapi Palace (R. Wiggins), which commenced to over-race and shifted in abruptly. Stewards opened an inquiry into the incident, however took no action other than to advise Apprentice R. Hinricks and Apprentice M. Hellyer to exercise more care in similar circumstances. From leaving the 500m until rounding the home turn Ladros (J. Bowditch) lugged out and consequently took no competitive part in the race. Stewards interviewed connections and advised them that Ladros must trial to the satisfaction of the stewards before being permitted to race again. A post-race veterinary examination of Ladros revealed that the horse was sore in both fetlocks and slightly lame in the near-foreleg. Connections were further informed that they must furnish a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to the horse being permitted to race again.