DOOM SEPT 16 - LAURELS GETS UP IN THE LAST STRIDE

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Friday, September 18, 2009

Doomben, September 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1.5m
C, G & E Class 3 Handicap - 1110m. Time: 1-04.64.
1 Laurels; 2 Wild Wilbur; 3 Bionic Rock.

The Bryan Guy trained Laurels scored a character building win here. The gelding’s challenge came from off the pace and his run was interrupted halfway up the straight, but the five-year-old still had enough commitment to run down Wild Wilbur in the shadow of the post to chalk up win number four.

Jockey Glen Colless took Laurels back to the rear of the field early. The runners remained fairly compact though so Laurels was no more than three-and-a-half lengths off the lead turning for home. That deficit was not the problem. Finding a clear passage would be the test and, at first, the search for clear running did not go well.

When about to run into a dead-end at the 200m mark, Colless shifted Laurels out three wide. The sideways movement cost him ground at a vital stage of the running. Laurels took just a brief moment to re-group and then set sail after Wild Wilbur who was about to take the measure of So Shall This at the head of affairs.

Laurels’ chase ended up being inch perfect as he snared Wild Wilbur in the last stride to claim the honours.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Guy: “We bought him as a young horse and when he was getting broken in he fractured a joint and we had to put a screw through his joint. That’s why he’s only had the starts he’s had (eleven career starts) and we’ve taken our time with him. He’s got a terrific record, you know, he’s got a great record. I reckon he’ll win Saturday class this horse.

“He’s best run was one day at the coast when Michael Palmer rode him in the apprentice race - he missed the kick two lengths - he was a furlong away and he got beat by about half a length or something and he should have bolted him, you know. Then we gave him a break, but his run was unbelievable in that apprentice race. Geez it was nice.

“I’ll tell you what’s going to suit him. We’re just going to plod along with him and keep freshening him up. We might have a crack at that... there’s a Class 6 Magic Millions day. We might just keep popping around for that.

“He got in a bit of trouble out there today. He was one alley, he was back on the fence, he was just looking for runs, you know. I was glad when it came. The ride was good. You put Glen (Colless) on ... you get worried because you don’t think he’s going to get a run, but he got a beautiful run ... like Glen changed course quick and got him through.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “I got held up just on straightening and once I got outside of the heels of that thing ... he didn’t like me to hit him. As soon as I hit him he just sort of half folded up. Then I put the whip away and he found something. It was good.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Approaching the 400m, Zeljko (J. Byrne) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Wild Wilbur (M. Hellyer). Mirabeau (G. Geran), which had been three wide throughout the event, was tightened for room momentarily leaving the 200m between Laurels (G. Colless) and Bionic Rock (L. Cassidy), which shifted in.

Jockey K. Banks, rider of Mountain Brew, was found guilty of a charge under AR137A(4)(c), in that she applied the whip to that horse when it was out of contention. K. Banks was fined $200.

Zeljko bled from both nostrils following the event. Trainer L. Mayfield-Smith was advised that the gelding would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.