EF DEC 12 - MILITARY ROSE ON THE MARCH

By Graham Potter | Monday, December 14, 2009

Eagle Farm, December 12, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1m.
Calaway Gal Stakes (2yo Fillies - Set Weights) - 1000m. Time: 57.26.
1 Military Rose; 2 Demanding Miss; 3 Ringa Ringa Rosie.

Jockey Stathi Katsidis pushed Military Rose into an immediate lead from her outside draw and the filly had the gate speed to get across to the rail without too much trouble.

All Fall Down tracked the leader and Demanding Miss pushed forward out of the pack to join the first two runners as they approached the turn. Military Rose held the rail run on straightening with All Fall Down (two wide) and Demanding Miss (three wide) and looming up on her outside.

Katsidis was happy to tolerate the presence of his two closest challengers for much of the run home, but, approaching the 100m mark, he put an end to the contest by asking Military Rose to go on and secure the result. The filly eased away without any undue fuss to score by a comfortable two length margin from Demanding Miss who stayed on to claim second place.

Make a note of Ringa Ringa Rosie who ran on stoutly to finish third after being well out of her ground when the field turned for home. All Fall Down weakening over the final 100m to finish fourth.

Military Rose remains unbeaten after two starts.

WINNERS FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gillian Heinrich: “She is a very smart filly. Obviously she improved from her last start a month ago. We tried to ease off her so we could get her ready for the Magic Millions, so it looks like it is all coming into play.

“Yeah, she did give Stathi (Katsidis) a hard time going to the start. I think she is probably just a little bit fresh at the moment. That’s why she had a bit of an attitude. If she can improve again on that run, and no doubt she will ... fitness-wise and every other way ... she should probably be a good chance in the Magic Millions.

“She’ll run in a 1200m race in a fortnight’s time and then she’ll go straight to the Magic Millions."

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “She is very smart. Still got a bit of learning to do ... like she’ll change her legs sort of wrongly in the run, especially coming around the home corner. I lost a bit of ground.

“She is very highly strung. Going to the gates she was a real handful to ride. She got a little bit upset in the gates ... waiting there. Like she is just really keen to race.

“Apart from all that, she’s got brilliant speed after a couple of strides. She then relaxes brilliantly as well ... and then you can sit on her for as long as you like and then give her a dig and she sprints again.

“I think she has got a lot of strengthening up to do. Once she strengthens up I think she will be a really, really nice filly. Who knows what she can do in the near future though?"

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Military Rose): 2.10 out to 2.45 in to 2.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed when Whisprian had to be unloaded and examined by the veterinary surgeon after it became fractious in the barriers. The horse was subsequently cleared to race. Suiligh (J. Holder) and Al Faher (J. Bowditch) were slow into stride.

Near the 700m, Suiligh shifted out, making contact with Hawaiian Pearls (K. Banks). A short distance later, Suiligh then raced ungenerously and shifted out, forcing Hawaiian Pearls out on to Reflection Of Jade (J. Byrne). Approaching the 700m, Lady Gainsford (A. Pattillo) got its head up and was inclined to race ungenerously.

J. Byrne, rider of Reflection Of Jade, reported that he was obliged to race wide throughout the event and on one occasion was taken wider on the track by other runners shifting out to his inside. He added that in consideration of these incidents, the performance of Reflection Of Jade had merit. A post race veterinary examination of Reflection Of Jade failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

J. Bowditch, rider of Al Faher, was fined $200 for using his whip in a forehand manner more than five times prior to the 100m.