EF FEB 02 - BRIGADOON JACK TAKES IT ALL IN HIS STRIDE

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 3, 2011

Eagle Farm, February 2, 2011.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 8m.
Class 3 Plate (C,G & E - Set Weights) - 1200m.
1 Brigadoon Jack; 2 River Lad; 3 No Halos.
Time: 1-10.11. (carrying 57.5kg). Last 600m: 34.87.
Margins: Neck; 0.75.

The Bruce Hill trained Brigadoon Jack made light work of coping with a four day back-up and the steadying burden of 57.5kg when he outgunned his opposition for a second successive time under an inch perfect ride from Paul Hammersley.

The four-year-old Falvelon gelding had won at the Gold Coast on Saturday and he simply gave his rivals a repeat dose of the medicine he handed out at the weekend to claim his fifth career success while remaining unbeaten in two starts this prep.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Paul Hammersley: “It was pretty easy from a good spot in barrier one.

“You know he won well on Saturday (when beating Rapid Leica Jacko in a Class 2 over 1200m at the Gold Coast). He pulled up well.

“All we had to do was probably have everything go right for him in the race. He was always going to be in the finish.

“I was confident all the way through. The last fifty was a bit tight because they were coming at me, but he just lasted so it was good.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Brigadoon Jack): 4.00 out to 4.60 in to 4.20.
Favourite (Red Hot Hussler): 3.10 out to 3.50 in to 3.30. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Heartshaker (S. Scriven) was slow to begin.

After passing the 800m, Ibalance (B. Looker) raced fiercely and had to be checked to avoid the heels of No Halos (M. Wood). River Lad (D. Browne), which was following, also had to be checked and shifted out, forcing Tuscon Rain (J. Wood) wider on the track.

Troopingthecolour (B. El-Issa) raced ungenerously passing the 1000m when being restrained.

Near the 650m, Troopingthecolour (B. El-Issa), when over-racing, shifted in slightly to avoid the heels of Red Hot Hussler (R. Wiggins), which resulted in Ibalance being tightened for room and becoming unbalanced and making contact with the running rail.

Shortly after entering the straight, Troopingthecolour (B. El-Issa) was disappointed for a run between Red Hot Hussler and No Halos. Troopingthecolour then altered course to the inside of Red Hot Hussler in order to improve.

Tuscon Rain hung in under pressure over the final 200m, and inside the 100m shifted in and brushed Red Hot Hussler.

Tuscon Rain raced wide throughout.

J. Bowditch, rider of Sky Traveller, pleaded guilty to a charge under AR137(b), in that he failed to ride his mount right out to the end of the race. J. Bowditch was fined $200. Stewards were satisfied that his actions did not have a material effect on the placings in the race.

When questioned regarding the performance of River Lad, D. Browne explained that after beginning awkwardly and being tightened soon after the start, he settled further back in the field than he would have liked and from a point approaching the 1000m raced very fiercely and proved difficult to ride in the middle stages.

Nearing the 650m, River Lad was inclined to shift out across the heels of Tuscon Rain, which resulted in him having to check the gelding. D. Browne added that rounding the turn, River Lad became unbalanced when he shifted wider on the track to afford the gelding clear running.

R. Wiggins, rider of Red Hot Hussler, which performed below expectations, explained that the colt travelled well in running, however failed to respond to his riding from passing the 600m and its finishing effort in the straight was disappointing in his view.

A post race veterinary examination of Red Hot Hussler failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

App. J. Wood, rider of Tuscon Rain, was reprimanded for using his whip in a forehand motion in consecutive strides prior to the 100m.

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