IPSW AUG 20 - GRAND LADY JUST TOO GOOD

By Graham Potter | Monday, August 24, 2009

Ipswich, August 20, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1.5m.
F&M Class 1 Handicap - 1000m. Time: 58.24.
1 Grand Lady; 2 My Cara Mia; 3rd - Little Pumpkin.

A change of scenery (when moved from Sydney to Murwillumbah) and a change of gear was a recipe for success for the Gerald Ryan trained Grand Lady who won with plenty in hand in her Queensland debut at Ipswich.

It was the mare’s second win in nine starts and she came back the shortest priced winner (1.80) on a day in which favourites saluted in half of the races on the card.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Matthew Dunn (stable foreman for the Gerald Ryan stable at Murwillumba): “She’s been up here this whole prep. This is her first race. She trialled at Murwillumbah last Monday. She’s been in work for probably three months now.

“We tried her the other day and she went pretty fierce, you know. We just tried the change of gear (Norton bit on, Bits (lugging) off) at home ... and it seemed to suit her. I mean she just needed something to bring her back like half a cog you know. Larry (Cassidy) just said then that she just settled great for him, so she’ll probably go to a 1200 next start.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “She come back really well first-up. She jumped good from a wide gate and got across easy. It was a nice win. It was basically a trouble-free run and she won with plenty in hand ... 1200 wouldn’t worry her.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Grand Lady): 1.80 steady.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start was delayed when Little Pumpkin proved difficult to load. Trainer Mr F. Adams was advised that he would be required to provide two barrier certificates for Little Pumpkin prior to its next race start. Little Pumpkin (K. Banks) was slow to begin. Aurora Magic (L. Rolls) threw its head in the air on jumping away and shifted out making contact with Dance Tulip (A. Spinks). Near the 500m, Little Pumpkin improved up on to the heels of Aurora Magic (L. Rolls) and shifted out. Kalinga Lady (A. Pattillo) raced wide in the early and middle stages of the event.

A post race veterinary examination of Kalinga Lady, which tailed off, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Jockey A. Pattillo reported that, in his opinion, the mare held its breath for the majority of the race. Stewards noted the explanation.