DOOM MAY 18: SOLZHENITSYN WINS ENTHRALLING DUEL WITH TRANSPORTER

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 20, 2013

DOOMBEN, MAY 18, 2013

Track - Dead 4. Rail - 1.5m 900m - 375m. True Remainder.
Carlton Mid LORD MAYOR’S CUP (Group 3) - 1600m.
1 Solzhenitsyn; 2 Transporter; 3 Epic; 4 Zennista.
Time: 1-36.68. Last 600: 35.23.
Margins: 0.20; 1.30.

DAVID FOWLER’S RACE WRAP:

“It was a battle of tactics early. Both Solzhenitsyn and Transporter went forward.

“Cahill (on Transporter) elected to hand up the lead to Solzhenitsyn, who then controlled it. Transporter had to come after him.

“Cahill then tried to make it a real tough test by putting on the pressure for the final 500m. They went head to head up the straight but Solzhenitsyn always had two kicks to Transporter’s one.

“Nevertheless, there was still only a short-neck between them at the line.

“It was a great spectacle with the two favourites going at it all the way up the straight while Epic, in his first weight-for-age test, ran very well to finish in third place.

“I’d say the form out of the race will be strong.”

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER ROBERT HEATHCOTE:

“Brilliant ride from Michael Rodd and also a brilliant ride by Michael Cahill.

“At the end of the day I guess this is what it is all about … winter carnival racing, weight-for-age, Group racing, genuine contest … the two best horses in the race, the two best backed having a two horse war from the 600. Brilliant!

“Yeah, the Stradbroke is next. We’ll freshen him up. A few trips to the beach. He won’t do a lot of galloping work. I’ve got him nice and fit and hard. Last week I was getting him ready for a 2000m Doomben Cup. He came back to this mile in good order. We’ll push on to the Stradbroke.

“He is a lovely horse. Melissa Leitch rides him all the time in work. She knows him well. She said today … thumbs up, we’ve got him spot on.”

JOCKEY MICHAEL RODD:

“Rob (Heathcote) left the tactics open to me. He didn’t give me any instructions, which can sometimes be a little bit dangerous.

“I just rode him as I found him.

“At the start I sort of wanted to go back, but he began so well. I knew Michael (Cahill, on Transporter) was one of the dangers and he was just going to float across in front of them so I thought I’ve got to be up there with him.

“Weight-for-age racing is very tactical. Solzhenitsyn is the best horse in the race. I thought I could use him a little bit.

“I was probably four deep coming into the first turn. Michael knew there were a couple inside of him and he just let them slip up the inside so that I just had to work that little bit harder to get around him.

“When I did, he did let me go so that he could get a slipstream run in behind me.

“We steadied up coming around the back there and then Michael was on his bike pretty early … obviously knowing that his horse was going to tough it out.

“My bloke does that as well … probably a little bit better.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:

Winner (Solzhenitsyn): 2.30 out to 2.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Passing the 1000m, ZENNISTA (J. Riddell) shifted out, forcing VOILA ICI (L. Nolen) wider on the track. VOILA ICI raced three wide for the remainder of the event.

At the same stage, TRANSPORTER (M. Cahill) shifted out from the heels of SOLZHENITSYN (M. Rodd), forcing BIGGLES (G. Cooksley) wider. BIGGLES raced three wide without cover for the remainder of the race.

Leaving the 400m, SHAMARDASHING (T. Bell) had to be steadied when tightened for room by VOILA ICI, which was taken in momentarily by BIGGLES, which was tiring.

DANAGAZE (A. Spinks) raced three wide throughout.

A post race veterinary examination of BIGGLES failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

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