RHILL SEPT 19 - NEVER SAY DIE MISS MARIELLE GETS HER DUE REWARD

By HRO | Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Rosehill, September 19, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 6m.
Hill Stakes (Group 2 - 3yo - WFA) - 1900m. Time: 1-56.13.
1 Miss Marielle; Pacino; Roman Emperor.

Trainer Joe Pride once again showed he has the knack of being able to get ‘out of form’ horses back in form and reaching unexpected peaks. Miss Marielle has been racing very consistently in her first preparation for Pride and she deserved the Group 2 victory here.

Jockey Peter Robl settled the mare behind the leader Zavite on the fence. Rounding the bend Zavite, who was doing battle with Hume, shifted off the rail giving Miss Marielle a glorious passage through which she used to full advantage to shoot into the lead.

Roman Emperor pressured Miss Marielle all the way to the line without being able to make up the leeway. In the end, Roman Emeperor’s effort was only worth third place as the runner-up Pacino flashed home late, coming from well back out wide on the track, to just miss out in a photo.

Pride's other runner Vision and Power showed he too may be close to his best with an improved showing for fourth and could be one to follow in the right race.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Joe Pride "She's racing particularly well and obviously that form behind O' Lonhro (when second in the Chelmsford) is very good. She's a hard mare to handle you know and Michelle Reed who rides her at home has done a fantastic job with her because she's always difficult to handle. She's a nervy mare and a cranky sort of mare but we've obviously got her reasonably happy".

Jockey Peter Robl " Yeah, look Joe (Pride) has done a terrific job as he does with all these older sort of horses being geldings or mares. We just got the nice run and you know she just keeps plugging to the line and gives her best.

“She goes as quick as she can and she'll do it all day and give her best you know, so if any of them have a chink in their armour she'll expose it."

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Vision And Power, which missed the start slightly, was then hampered shortly afterwards between Hume and Pacino, which shifted out. Fulmonti shifted in shortly after the start, taking Teranaba in onto Miss Marielle and Zavite. Close to the finishing line Hume had to be steadied, Bid Spotter was tightened and Vision And Power was hampered when tightened for room between Miss Marielle (P Robl), which shifted out, and Roman Emperor (H Bowman), which shifted in. P Robl and H Bowman were severely reprimanded and advised that they must make far more effort to keep their mounts straight.

Trainer Mr B Smith was questioned regarding the instructions given to S Galloway, rider of Hume, which led early. Mr Smith confirmed the instructions had been, from its wide barrier, to find cover, but if trapped wide to press forward. He stated, in his opinion, Hume, being obliged to race forward today, had not been in the best interests of the horse.