SCTC JUL 19 - JUST A PICCOLO PLAYS WINNING TUNE

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Sunshine Coast, July 19, 2009.
2yo QTIS Maiden Plate - 1200m. Time: 1-13.57.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 5m.
1 Just A Piccolo; 2 Golden Kid; 3 Bucket Of Cash.

The Eric Hayes trained Just A Piccolo had nowhere to go from the worst of the draw in the early part of the race. Caught wide, racing worse than midfield, jockey Jason Taylor was content to bide his time before asking the gelding to make a forward move in the approach to the turn to get up closer to the leader.

There were no short-cuts though and the runner with the bright gold colours was forced to corner four to five wide as Golden Kid, who had led throughout, saved ground on the turn before unleashing an early kick for home. As the bulk of the field began to fold under the pressure Golden Kid was applying, Just A Piccolo proved to be the exception. Wide as he might be, Just A Piccolo just kept coming.

It was soon just a race in two ... Golden Kid fighting on valiantly, Just A Piccolo striving to peg back the leader. In the end, with Just A Piccolo closing, it came down to whether the post would come in time for Golden Kid to triumph but, with a bob of the head in the final stride, Taylor forced Just A Piccolo up on the line to snatch the prize.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Eric Hayes: “He hasn’t run a bad race. He has always had ability. In his first race (at Ipswich) ... in the 800m ... he had to be ridden real hard. Being new he run off on the corner. The winner got a length-and-a-half in front and he run him back to three-quarters of a length, so that was a real good run. The horse that beat him (Bargaining, trained by Jason Coyle) come out and run third in the big two-year-old race at Ipswich in his next start the following Saturday.

“Second run ... he drew wide again, got caught five wide ... had to go forward ... and the heavy going told on him a little bit. Today he had the 15 alley. He’s drawn an outside alley nearly every time – wide alleys - and this time he did the job. He is a tough horse.

“The 1200m made a hell of a difference. I didn’t have to ride him hard today. We could let him settle. Those first two starts he had to be ridden hard and that didn’t suit him. He’s not that sort of horse. He is a better horse left to settle and come home. Good result. (Jockey) Jason (Taylor) said just take her straight to town.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Just A Piccolo): 4.60 out to 4.80 in to 3.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gotellit (C. Reith) was tightened for room at the start by Falplay (S. Katsidis), which shifted in after beginning awkwardly. Lookim You (Michael Palmer) began awkwardly and shifted in, making contact with Golden Kid (M. Hellyer). Leaving the 1000m, Bucket Of Cash (J. Piper) shifted out, forcing Teresa (J. Byrne) wider on the track, resulting in Teresa (J. Byrne) and Just A Piccolo (J. Taylor) making contact. Leaving the 800m, Catwalks Of Paris (O. Turpin) was disappointed for a run to the inside of Gotellit (C. Reith) where doubtful room existed. Aequitas (G. Baker) over-raced in the early and middle stages. Approaching the finish of the race, Gotellit was crowded for room between Falplay and Rock Art (R. Wiggins), which shifted in. Bucket Of Cash (J. Piper) and Just A Piccollo (J. Taylor) both raced wide for the majority of the event.