ITC JUN 30 - MITCHELL WOOD LANDS FIRST TAB WIN

By Graham Potter | Friday, July 3, 2009

Ipswich, June 30, 2009.
Class 1 Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-13.53.
1 Beyond The Limit; 2 South Grafton; 3 All Show.

There was a busy twenty minute period for the young 4kg claiming apprentice Mitchell Wood at Ipswich on Tuesday.

One moment he was winning on his first ever ride at Ipswich to notch up his first TAB success and less than twenty minutes later he was out strapping another of his boss’s horses in the next race.

You have never seen a happier strapper!

Wood is attached to trainer Kelly Schweida and it was only appropriate that his breakthrough winner, Beyond The Limit, was sent out by his home stable. The 4kg claim obviously played its part in the way the gelding was able to skip clear with some authority early in the home straight, but all credit to the youngster for way in which he took his mount to the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “Mitch rode him last time as well and it went good.” (Beyond The Limit finished second to Mr Nappy at the Gold Coast). “So the horse seems to run for him. This is the second start in blinkers for the horse. It appears they seem to be doing the trick ... improves his concentration. The plan was to try and lead ... to try and get two or three off the fence around the back. He rode it good.”

Apprentice jockey Mitchell Wood: “He jumped out beautifully. One outside wanted to take him on, but when I let him slide a bit he travelled beautifully to the turn. The plan all along was to try and lead. We got it easy so I took hold of him and at the 600m he really started to travel and I let him slide again. We rolled off the fence a bit and he just kept finding. The horse did sort of stumble 50m out, he just lost his footing a bit when he rolled back into the heavier part of it, but he had it won.

“That’s my third winner in total. It’s my very first ride at Ipswich and my first TAB win. It was good to do it for my boss ... and my dad’s here as well to see it. It’s great.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Beyond The Limit): 4.00 out to 4.80.
Favourite (Nobody Knows): 3.30 in to 2.80. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gallant Hawk (M. Hellyer) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out, making heavy contact with Heza Outlaw (G. Geran). Shortly after Heza Outlaw (G. Geran) shifted in, again making contact with Gallant Hawk. Near the 50m, All Show (J. Bowditch) shifted out and brushed Nobody Knows (J. Byrne). Eternal Star (D. Tanti) and Heza Outlaw (G. Geran) raced wide for the majority of the event.