SUNSHINE COAST REVIEW (SUN, MAR 29)

A review of the meeting held at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, March 29.

Race 1:

3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1400m
1st - Catwalk Strut; 2nd - Costigan; 3rd - Carry On Dancer

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Nicole Bruce (who was clearly overjoyed with the result): “That is how he has to race, yeah. He has got to race back and come home. Mitchell (Speers) did exactly what the trainer (Rhett Faithfull) asked him to do. It was a brilliant ride. He is not an easy horse to win on. He’s got a couple of little issues so Mitchell did a really good job.”

Apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers: Yeah, I was told not to have him near horses, because he is a bit field-shy. I was told just to get it to the outside and it should sprint home and that is exactly what happened. He showed a good turn of foot.”

Catwalk Strut was Speers’ third victory in as many days. He had won on Jackpot at Ipswich on Friday before taking out the featured Magic Millions 2yo Plate at the Gold Coast on Saturday on Sniplaz for his boss Liam Birchley. Speers commented on the Sniplaz success.

Speers: “We knew he liked the wet. We didn’t know if he would get the 1200m before the race, but he got that. He didn’t have much luck (when held wide) in his run in Rockhampton, but otherwise he’s done everything asked of him.” (Sniplaz has won three out of six starts).

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Catwalk Strut): 4.00 out to 4.80.
Favourite (Costigan): 2.00 out to 2.80. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Will Impress (M. Radecker) began awkwardly. Apprentice O. Turpin pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR137(a), in that near the 50m he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Will Impress, which had to be checked. In considering this charge, stewards conceded there was a minor shift from Archway’s Bliss (K. Pope), which was racing to the inside, however believed that this occurred after Will Impress had to be checked. O. Turpin was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 29 March and to expire at midnight, 9 April 2009. Dontworryboutme (B. Thomson) raced wide for the majority of the event.


Race 2:

2yo QTIS Maiden Plate - 1200m
1st - Dancingwithangels; 2nd - Rainy Knight; 3rd - Lunar Rose

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Amy Taylor: “I was up there from the start. Brent (Evans on Rainy Knight) came up outside me and I just gave my one a rest and sat off him. I stayed on the fence and she seemed to be handling the track pretty good. She just kicked when I gave her a push and I hit her the last few hundred metres and she just kept going. She hasn’t got bad form. At this stage she’s probably a good provincial horse. Only when she is a three-year-old and matures and grows - because she is only tiny – then she’ll be a bit better.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Dancingwithangels): 4.00 out to 4.20 in to 3.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Smart Of Course (O. Turpin) reared as the gates were released and lost ground. Trainer R. Milne was advised that a warning was being placed on Smart Of Course regarding its barrier manners. Lunar Rose (R. Hinricks) jumped outwards at the start, making contact with On The Wave (D. Green).
D. Green, rider of On The Wave, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that near the 1150m he allowed his mount to shift in under heavy riding when not clear of Lunar Rose (R. Hinricks) and Magic Minx (J. Byrne), causing both runners to be severely checked and lose their rightful running. When being corrected following this incident, On The Wave shifted out abruptly, hampering Top Messiah (K. Pope). D. Green was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 29 March and to expire at midnight, 9 April 2009.
Rainy Knight lost its off-fore plate in running.


Race 3:

Class 3 Handicap - 1600m
1st - Starelie; 2nd - Bloodhound; 3rd - Bald Eagle

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Luke Rolls: “She began well. I never really spent a penny on her early. She just lobbed out about third or fourth. I never spent any energy at all. Coming to the half-mile, I sort of peeled out there or four wide ... and then I let her go. She finished it off good. I thought the outside ... the second horse ... I thought it had me at one stage, but she just kept fighting on.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Starelie): 3.30 out to 4.80.
Equal favourite (Seraphino): 3.00 out to 3.60. Finished sixth.
Equal favourite (Ryjatah): 3.00 out to 3.60. Finished last.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Seraphino (M. Hughes) reared as the start was effected and refused to jump. Trainer C. Morphy was advised that Seraphino must perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial prior to its next race start. Bloodhound (K. Pope) began awkwardly. Akoya (S. Galloway) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with Bald Eagle (M. Palmer). Passing the 1400m, when the pace steadied, Bloodhound commenced to over-race for some distance and threw its head in the air. Leaving the 700m, Seraphino had to be steadied when crowded for room between Bloodhound (K. Pope), which shifted out, and Starelie (L. Rolls), which shifted in.


Race 4:

3yo & Up Maiden Plate - 1000m,
1st - On The Leather; 2nd - Eleven Oysters; 3rd - Silent Le Touch

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Stewart Mackinnon: “He had a knee operation. He had chips removed. He’s been off a long time – eight months. He had three months in the paddock and six weeks on the Aqua-walker up here at Yandina Lodge. That helped him a lot to get him back, you know. He’s been back in training for about four months. We just gave a slow prep to bring him up so there was not much galloping on his knees. He’s got ability, like he showed today. He took command a long way out. The Rubiton’s like the wet track and that helps his knees as well. If he stays sound, he’s a horse he can get to town, but we have to handle him with care.”

On The Leather has finished in the first three placings in all four career starts.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (On The Leather): 1.80 out to 1.95 in to 1.85.
The winner was the favourite.

STERWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
El Morocco reared as the start was effected and lost considerable ground. Trainer R. Stephenson was advised that he must provide a barrier certificate for El Morocco prior to its next race start. Iron Hawk (K. Forrester) began awkwardly and made contact with the outside barrier partition. Eleven Oysters (B. Pengelly) was slow to begin. Hudsons Hornet (S. Apthorpe) raced wide for the majority of the event. In The Clink lost its off-fore plate in running.


Race 5:

Class 2 Handicap - 850m
1st - Lots Of Allure; 2nd - Hurricaneprince; 3rd - Sadliers Crossing

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mick Mair: “Ah, she fights on alright. She got going again. The going wasn’t too bad on the fence there. The short sprint (850m) is fine for her ... or the 1000m. She likes the 1000m on the Cushion Track.”

Apprentice jockey Jana Piper: “I won on it last time on the Cushion Track. It won very well over 1000m. I was lucky to get the ride on her again, because she did get the minimum and I couldn’t claim on her. They did come at me in the closing stages, but I knew I just had to hold on to her head and not hit her ... and she’ll just keep going. If you hit her, she doesn’t go any faster. You’ve rather just got to keep helping her, stay balanced and keep hold of her mouth. Then she’ll do her best.”

This was the lightly-raced Lots Of Allure’s second successive victory. Her race record now reads three wins and three runner-up finishes from only eight starts.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sadliers Crossing (M. Speers) and Hazza Heart (A. Erhart) were tightened for room at the start between Doppelt (S. Kennedy) and Lots Of Allure (J. Piper), which began awkwardly and shifted in. Hazza Heart lost ground as a result of this incident. Riviera Moss (N. Evans) shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages.


Race 6:

Class 5 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Abirra; 2nd - Degenda; 3rd - Frisco's In Charge

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Wilson: “The reason he was out for three-and-a-half months is we struck a few problems – stone bruises, mate. We nearly had him up and then he got a stone bruise. That cost us a couple of weeks. Then he got another one, in his back foot this time. We really would have preferred 1000m first-up, but we had to take what was on offer. I think it was a very good effort first-up over 1200m. We didn’t really want him to lead. She (Jana Piper) got real smart there. She peeled out around the home turn and got out onto the better part of the track. We’ve got him in a Class 6 on Easter Monday.”

Apprentice jockey Jana Piper: “I never ridden this horse before. The trainer told me it would begin really well. He said it was first-up over 1200m so I should try and look after him early. I had one on the outside of me - just half-lengthing me – in front of me, annoying the you-know-what-out of me. In the end, I think he proved he was just that much better than the other horses. I don’t think they needed to claim on him, but I’m pleased they did.”

Abirra is certainly not short of ability. Included in his list of credits is a win over Burdekin Blues and a short-neck runner-up finish to Charming Rogue. His strike-rate of six wins from seventeen starts is also a big positive factor.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Abirra): 2.30 out to 2.40 in to 1.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Irishkiwi (E. Wilkinson) jumped outwards at the start, making contact with Sir Woody (S. Drake). Chaufuhr (C. Reith) began awkwardly and shifted out. Frisco’s In Charge (O. Turpin) began awkwardly and lost ground. Near the 800m, Irishkiwi had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Sir Woody (S. Drake), which shifted in. A post-race veterinary examination of Sir Woody, which finished tailed off, revealed the horse to be lame in the near-fore leg. Trainer D. Macoun was advised that he would be required to provide a veterinary clearance prior to its next trial or race.


Race 7:

Class 1 Handicap - 1200m
1st - Coen; 2nd - Frenardi; 3rd - Gazillion

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ian Livingstone: “We bought him out of the tried sales for $3000. We’ve got an apprentice (Keely James). She’s got to do bush rides, so we bought him for her to ride. That’s the third run we’ve had with him. That race at Esk (two runs back), I just put him in to see what he would do in a race, you know. Just to try and find out more about him. He got that far back and then just flew home. Then we came here and ran second last time (at 21-1). The horse who beat us then (Lots Of Allure) won again earlier today, which franked our form, yet we’ve again been allowed to start at the same long odds today. We are not a punting stable so that doesn’t matter, but it is still interesting that the odds didn’t allow for his improvement. It’s been improving all the time and it’s the best mannered horse you could ever have around the place. It just goes to sleep. Any kid can ride it in work. It’s just a pleasure to train.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Coen): 17.00 out to 21.00.
Favourite (Gazillion): 4.00 out to 4.80 in to 4.60. Finished third.
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STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Frenardi lost its off-fore plate when proceeding to the barriers and had to be reshod. Bradash (J. Piper) jumped outwards at the start, making heavy contact with Trail Of Secrets (E. Wilkinson), which in turn shifted out, making contact with the hind quarters of Red Tsar (A. Badger). Gazillion (S. Drake) commenced to over-race in the middle stages and near the 700m had to be steadied off the heels of Frenardi (A. Pattillo) and shifted out, inconveniencing Trail Of Secrets, which was following. Coen (M. Hughes) shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages. Spanglish (R. Hinricks), Silver’s Legacy (C. McIver), Hootson (K. Yoshida) and Red Tsar (A. Badger) all raced wide for the majority of the event. A post-race veterinary examination of Spanglish failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.


Race 8:

Class 1 Handicap - 1600m
1st - La Bellashee; 2nd - Vistula Belle; 3rd - Banana Split

WINNER FEEDBACK:
John Maddon: “It’s a mare that got run on from behind twelve months ago and we’ve put in a lot of work into her. We knew she would always take a mile. She showed us ... she went over 2000m last week. We backed her up fresh. She likes the sting out of the ground. It was a perfect day for her. She’s been coming on steadily. She’s only lightly framed. You’ve got to take her slowly, but she has got a lot of work under her. She is fit.”

Apprentice jockey Jana Piper (who completed a treble on the day): “We didn’t want her that close, but when I saw the top weight (the favourite, Banana Split) going out, I wasn’t letting it out of my sight. I really thought I needed to keep it within a couple of lengths of me and then we had the finish to see them all off. I was pretty happy. I really do want to thank the trainer (Dennis Heinemann). He is absolutely great the way he has stuck by me. I couldn’t ride La Bellashee last start, but I know Dennis will always give me the ride back when he can. I’m really grateful for his support.”

With one win on Saturday night and a treble on Sunday Jana Piper has improved her tally to twenty-three winners in the Sunshine Coast Jockeys Premiership. Piper, who led the championship early before weight issues began to plague her progress, is now in full cry after Premiership leader, fellow apprentice Owen Turpin. Turpin is still well clear, but not yet quite safely home, with thirty-five winners. Turpin fell foul of the stewards at today’s meeting and was suspended for seven meetings, meaning that Piper has a ‘free card’ at the double-header fixture at the Sunshine Coast next weekend to attempt to make further inroads into Turpin’s lead. It could be a race worth following.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (La Bellashee): 17.00 Steady.
Favourite (Banana Split): 3.10 out to 3.30. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Rock Away The Days stood flatfooted at the start and lost considerable ground. Trainer Mr D. Powell was advised that he must provide a barrier certificate for Rock Away The Days prior to its next race start. So Long (C. McIver) was slow to begin. La Bellashee (J. Piper) and Jedi Starfighter (A. Badger) began awkwardly. Approaching the 1200m, Jedi Starfighter commenced to over-race and improved on to the heels of Don’t Back Down (B. Thompson) and blundered. Jedi Starfighter then continued to over-race for some distance. Rock Away The Days raced wide for the majority of the race.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY EXTRACT:
Summary of action concerning licensees:
Reprimands:
From SCTC, 29.3.09
Renee Hinricks - A/jockey - Fail to fulfil engagements - AR85B*

Fines:
Race 2. Maryann Thexton - Trainer - Present horse with incorrect gear - $100 - AR140A*

Suspensions:
Race 1. Owen Turpin - A/jockey - C/riding - 7 mtgs - M/n 29.3.09 to m/n 9.4.09 AR137(a)
Race 4. Davin Green - Jockey - C/riding - 8 mtgs - M/n 29.3.09 to m/n 9.4.09 - AR137(a)

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
Horses swabbed:
All winners, Costigan, Rainy Knight, Bloodhound, Degenda

Warnings/bars
From SCTC, 28.3.09
Race 6. Kellina's Shadow - Sore in off-foreleg - Vet. clearance - LR36(b)

Race 2. Smart Of Course - Reared at start, lost ground - Warning - LR36(b)
Race 3. Seraphino - Reared at start/refused to jump - Official trial - LR36(b)
Race 4. El Morocco - Reared at start, lost considerable ground - B/certificate - LR36(b)
Race 6. Sir Woody - Lame near foreleg - Vet. clearance before race or trial - LR36(b)
Race 8. Rock Away The Days - Stood flatfooted at start - B/certificate - LR36(b)