GOLD COAST JAN 7 - MR LIGHT BLUE TAKES HIS OPPORTUNITY, SCORES DESERVED WIN

By Graham Potter | Sunday, January 8, 2012

Gold Coast, January 7, 2012.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Class 6 Plate (Set Weights) - 2200m.
1 Mr Light Blue; 2 Eureka Jack; 3 Bugsytwoshoes; 4 Object Of Virtue.
Time: 2-16.49. Last 600m: 36.02.

The ever-consistent Mr Light Blue picked up where he had left off a week earlier when a ‘no race’ was called at Doomben because of a horse lying on the track. On that occasion, when the jockeys were asked to rein in their runners halfway up the home straight, Mr Light Blue was very much in contention for race honours.

This time the race went its full distance and Mr Light Blue was again produced at the right time and he would simply not be denied as he strode to the line with meaning to complete his fourth win from nineteen starts.

That finishing effort came off the back of a run which saw the grey travelling well within himself for much of the trip. Jockey Tim Bell elected to save ground in the first half of the race as the contest was conducted at an ordinary speed.

That meant the four-year-old had plenty left to offer coming to the home turn, but it looked like traffic problems ahead might restrict his options.

Bell held his nerve along the inside while he weighed up his next move. With most of the runners fanning wide, an inside run beckoned him. Bell briefly steered Mr Light Blue towards the rail, but then almost immediately pulled him out to go around the heels of the leader tiring Golden Cygnet instead and take the split that was offered there.

It was the safer option and Mr Light Blue surged to the lead inside the final 200m.

Mr Light Blue might not have the ‘wow factor’, but he is as honest as they come, has a turn of foot which can carry him forward well and is at his best when he has other runners chasing. He is difficult to get past, in spite of the fact that he has to be kept honest by his rider as he has a tendency to ‘switch off’ once he thinks he’s got the job done … and his rivals found that out to their detriment here.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “According to Tim (Bell) the win was a bit better than it looked because it switched off on him again once it got to the front. That can be a problem, but at least he gets to the front.

“He looks like quite a versatile sort on paper distance-wise, but the fact is the funny thing is he has never won a race under 2100m. All of his wins have been over distance. He is just an out and out stayer.”

Jockey Tim Bell: “He got every ounce of luck that was possible.

“He travelled in amongst horses. I was worried coming down to the 1000 that I was going to struggle to get a run. Next minute they just opened up and he took his opportunity.

“Look, he is a horse who’s got a few more wins left in him. He is a good genuine stayer and now is probably back to his best.

“You only have to look at his last prep form … towards the latter end of his preparation and he was flying in some major races.

“Let’s hope he just keeps going up and up from here.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Mr Light Blue): 2.00 in to 1.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Correct weight was delayed to allow App A. Allen and trainer G. Hutchesson the opportunity to view the stewards footage of the start to ascertain whether Golden Cygnet had been afforded a fair start.

After viewing the footage both parties did not wish to proceed with the matter. It was established that Golden Cygnet had become fractious in the barriers and at the request of the rider was assisted by a barrier attendant. Following the start being effected Golden Cygnet jumped away very awkwardly and lost ground.

Trainer G. Hutchesson was advised that he must produce a further barrier certificate for Golden Cygnet before it again races.

Bugsytwoshoes (B. Looker) was slow to begin.

Bugsytwoshoes over-raced at the heels of Eureka Jack for a short distance rounding the turn out of the front straight.

When Ken And Kim (L. Cheshire) surrendered the lead to Two Times A Lady (B. Stewart) near the 1600m it commenced to race fiercely and continued to do so until it commenced to weaken after passing the 600m. A post race veterinary examination of Ken And Kim revealed a slower than normal recovery rate.

Bugsytwoshoes shifted out on the home turn taking both Handsome (Matthew Palmer) and Mukaddamah Son (P. Hammersley) wider on the track.

Upon entering the home straight Eureka Jack (C. Munce) and No More Bull (J. Ford) brushed.

Stewards sought an explanation from App A. Allen and trainer G. Hutchesson regarding the riding tactics that were adopted on Golden Cygnet.

Trainer G. Hutchesson advised that he had instructed App Allen that with the light weight today to make a sustained run on the mare from the 800m and attempt to set up a lead on the main body of the field upon entering the straight. Mr Hutchesson added that Golden Cygnet was up in class today and he felt that these were the best tactics in the circumstances.

App Allen stated that Golden Cygnet commenced to over-race near the 1400m and rather than restrain he moved the mare three wide and improved his position to eventually obtain the lead near the 800m and from that point he allowed the mare to stride.

Stewards advised both parties that in their view it would have been a better option to ride Golden Cygnet more conservatively bearing in mind the step up in class from its most recent start but were not of the view that further action was warranted.

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