EF MAR 19 - AL MAZAYA STRIKES AGAIN

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 21, 2011

Eagle Farm, March 19, 2011.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 6.5m.
Open Handicap - 1500m
1 Al Mazaya; 2 Mr Slick; 3 Essington.
Time: 1-31.30. (Carrying 55kg). Last 600m: 36.25.
Margins: 2.25; Half-neck.

WINNER FEEDBACK;
Trainer Michael Jacobs: “He keeps on improving. We were fortunate the way it worked out today … Brownie rode him so well again.

“I was fairly confident going into the race, I’ve got a lot of confidence in Damian Browne and I thought today that might give us a bit of an advantage.

“Damian rode her beautifully again and the horse just responded to it.”

Jockey Damian Browne: “Yeah, I am having a good run at the moment, but I’m probably pretty lucky because the horses I’m getting on at the moment are realistic chances. That makes my job a lot easier.

“This horse has got natural gate speed. He puts himself in a good position and makes my job easier, because I am able to dictate what happens around me.

“I sort of kept the favourite (Essington) three out and got an easy time so I was able to sprint off the corner and make him work.

“Originally I thought I’d lead, but Heart Of The Citi went out pretty fierce. I had Essington to my outside. I thought I’d stay where I am and keep him three out and I was able to dictate the race from there and kick off the corner and make it hard for him.

“Al Mazaya’s got a nice dash about him. He’s shown that over shorter distances and he’s been able to keep that going over 1600m now … which is real good.

“He is just a genuine work-horse. He is probably just a length or two off the better type of horses, but everything he does is so tradesman-like and he always runs to his ability.

“He digs right in and give one hundred and ten percent every time.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Al Mazaya): 4.60 out to 5.00.
Favourite (Essington): 1.50 out to 1.55 in to 1.50. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Web Of Love (J. Byrne) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.

Little Stranger (S. Galloway) over-raced in the early stages.

Web Of Love also over-raced in the early stages and near the 1000m shifted out when restrained to avoid the heels of Little Stranger.

Stewards sought an explanation from App M. Wood regarding the performance of Essington.

App Wood explained that he was obliged to race three wide throughout the event however, the gelding did not feel completely comfortable in its action on the rain affected surface.

He added that when placed under pressure in the home straight Essington was inclined to lay in and passing the 400m made contact with Mr Slick (J. Bowditch).

App Wood further added that Essington did not sprint as expected but worked to the line fairly over the concluding stages.

A post race veterinary examination of Essington revealed no significant findings. Trainer D. Hansen advised that Essington would now be sent for a spell.

Following the running of this event the track was downgraded to a Slow 6 retrospective.

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