DOOM SEPT 11 - POOR JUDGE RULES OK

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Doomben, September 11, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 5.3.
Open Handicap - 1615m.
Time: 1-39.24. Last 600m: 33.94. (Carrying 58.5kg).
1 Poor Judge; 2 Rightson; 3 Rebounded.

Since the horse came into his stable trainer Norm Hilton has handled the career of Poor Judge with a sure touch that has helped carry the five-year-old gelding to an impressive race record.

That overall return stood at ten wins from twenty-two starts prior to Poor Judge facing the starter at Doomben on Saturday.

For all that confirmed quality, Saturday’s race did represent a real test for the well-performed son of Royal Academy … not only because he was saddled with the top weight of 58kg, which meant he would be giving weight to all of his rivals (between 3kg and 8.5kg), but, more importantly because he was stepping up significantly in distance to the mile trip, which he had only attempted once before, right at the end of his three-year-old season, with an ordinary outcome.

More mature … more of a racehorse now, the options would really open up for the gelding were he to cope with his latest assignment.

Poor Judge seized the opportunity under deft handling from his now regular pilot Chris Munce, but the slow pace that was in play over the first 1000m (which they ran in 65.20 seconds) means that the jury will need more evidence before coming up with a definitive rating for Poor Judge as a miler.

Poor Judge, who jumped into an immediate lead, was left alone for those first 1000m. When the pressure came on inside the 600m Poor Judge had little difficulty in holding his advantage to the turn. Munce then gave his mount more rein in the early part of the straight before he took the whip out and gave Poor Judge a reminder coming through the 200m mark.

The Hilton runner responded with what would turn out to be a winning kick as Rightson emerged as the only threat to Poor Judge and these two runners chased to the line. Poor Judge was not going to be denied and he stayed on strongly to ward off the challenge of the hard-ridden Rightson by 0.75 lengths.

An inquiry was opening into jockey Justin Wood’s handling of Rightson with regards to his tactics during the race.

Rightson was eased back by Wood shortly after the start. This resulted in the second favourite being caught three wide in the early part of the back straight. Wood then elected to take the Barry Baldwin trained runner further back in an attempt to get in, but he eventually had to chase four wide around runners to get into contention as the field started to get serious approaching the turn.

Rightson cornered in fifth place, a touch under four lengths behind the leader Poor Judge. He then chased with meaning, drawing on every bit of his 6.5kg advantage at the weights, but, in the end, his effort was only worth second place and Munce’s astute front-running tactic’s carried the day aboard Poor Judge.

The inquiry was adjourned, to be resumed at a later date (see Stewards Report Extract).

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Norm Hilton: “We always thought he would run a mile. Chris (Munce) thought he could to … so we were pretty confident.

“It is satisfying to get the result over a mile, yeah. You think they can, but you don’t know until they do it. Now that we know he can do that it opens up other options for us.

“He was beautifully rated. The horse just doesn’t know how to give up.

“No, I have no regrets about not taking him south. There have been wet tracks there and everything. Quite happy where we are.

“We’ll probably go to another mile race in a couple of weeks. Then we’ll most likely spell him … give him a good spell … and get him ready for the Winter Carnival. We can even aim him at the Stradbroke. Why not?”

Jockey Chris Munce: “He had 59.5kg today. I was sort of a bit aware of that.

“There was going to be a bit of pressure on him the first bit. Luckily enough they sat back off him and he relaxed well in front. I was happy to run that time early. He was lovely today.

“You know, I think that’s probably him now. The 1400 … a mile, I think that’s just perfect for him. I don’t think he can stretch out much further than that. The 1400m, a mile is the ideal trip for him.

“You’ve got to remember, last time in he was sort of down in the weights a bit carrying the 53kg’s. He’s worked his way through the grades, but since he’s won that Weetwood race and the Bribie he has been pretty well penalised from then on and he has had to carry quite a bit.

“That’s probably why it’s taken him a bit longer to hit his straps today.

“Like I said to Normie (Hilton) before the race, he is really getting to his fighting weight. Looking at him, he is much fitter today. He looked more like a racehorse.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Poor Judge): 2.60 in to 2.30.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Blackwoods Choice (S. Seamer), which was kicked by another runner after arriving at the barriers, was inspected and passed suitable to race.

Eddie Rapido (E. Kehoe) was slow to begin.

Approaching the first turn In Rehearsal (E. Wilkinson) over-raced for a short distance.

A post-race veterinary examination of Adavale Hornet (J. Taylor), which compounded to finish last, failed to reveal any abnormalities.

A post-race veterinary examination of In Rehearsal found the horse to be lame in both forelegs. Connections were advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness for the horse must be produced prior to its next race start.

An inquiry was opened into the tactics adopted by apprentice J. Wood on Rightson. After taking evidence from J. Wood, trainer B. Baldwin and J. Wood's master, S. Ryan, the inquiry was adjourned to a time and date to be fixed to enable stewards to investigate the betting transactions on the race.

Trainer B. Baldwin pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct under AR. 175(q) in that after being denied access to the saddling enclosure following the running of Race 2 he behaved inappropriately. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account the circumstances of this case and Mr Baldwin's good record over a long period and imposed a fine of $200.

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