EF JULY 24 - RED FERMENTS OUTCLASSES OPPOSITION

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Eagle Farm, July 24, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2.5m.
Country Cup (1MW) - 1200m.
Time: 1-09.81. (Carrying 57kg).
1 Red Ferments; 2 Monashee Warrior; 3 Tuscon Rain.

This race did represent a tougher assignment for Red Ferments than when he romped home over 1200 at the Sunshine Coast in his previous start, but the gelding simply came out and treated his opposition with the exact, same disdain as he once again left his rivals trailing in his wake to score by an untroubled 3.50 length margin.

The Patrick Sexton trained runner simply turned the race into a procession. He jumped into a two length lead in the early part and enjoyed a comfortable run to the turn where he straightened a length-and-a-half ahead of Pelltro. Prince Lionheart raced in third spot (three wide) and Monashee Warrior cornered in fourth place saving ground along the inside.

These four horses were the only runners within striking distance of getting the result at that stage, but three of those chances evaporated within a few strides when jockey Larry Cassidy gave Red Ferments more rein and asked the five-year-old to lengthen his stride.

Red Ferments simply left his rivals floundering behind him and he had his race won a long way from home as he completely outclassed his opposition on the day.

Red Ferments’ market rival Monashee Warrior led the chase for the consolation prize, but he at no stage threatened to challenge the superiority of the winner.

This was Red Ferments ninth win from thirty-eight starts. The bay gelding also has eight minor placings to his credit.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Larry Cassidy: “I haven’t ridden the horse before. I saw his last win at Coloundra … only last week I think. He ran a pretty good time that day. I just thought for a race like this, if he could get his own way up front, which he obviously did, I knew he would be hard to run down.

“He is a giant horse. He just fits in the gates. They said, you have really got to chase him a bit early. He sort of takes three, four, five strides to get fully into stride. Sometimes they obviously beat him there because they are just too quick for him.

“He got away reasonably cleanly and got there very quick. I thought I’d dug him a little bit too much. I tried to get him to coast around the corner and come back to me.

“For a big horse he showed lightning speed really. When they can travel that easily in front they only need a little kick to be able to win.

“I wasn’t going to have a peep on the turn, but I knew I was about four in front. There way I was travelling he was always going to be hard to run down.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Red Ferments): 5.50 in to 4.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Lucky Duke (B. Looker) jumped away awkwardly. Borsha’s Warrior (D. Browne) jumped awkwardly and shifted out. I’m Ruthless (J. Byrne) jumped awkwardly and lost ground.

Near the 900m Black Dakota (J. Bowditch) commenced to over-race and for some distance had to be restrained to avoid the heels of Fly To Win (M. Cahill).

Smuggler’s Inn (G. Colless), Obliviator (M. Hellyer) and I’m Ruthless raced wide throughout.

Black Dakota was held up for clear running in the early part of the home straight.

Borsha’s Warrior was also held up in the early part of the straight until near the 300m and again over the final 100m had difficulty obtaining clear running.

L. Rolls, the rider of Catcher Man, was questioned regarding the riding tactics he adopted in the early stages where he restrained the gelding from a wide barrier, which was in contrast to its most recent start.

L. Rolls explained that connections had specifically instructed him to restrain the horse in the early stages and obtain cover and added that until after passing the 1000m Catcher Man resented this tactic and raced ungenerously.

L. Rolls further added that once he obtained cover, Catcher Man relaxed well, however failed to respond to his riding and may be better suited being dropped back in class.

Trainer Ms A. Willick confirmed the instructions issued and concurred with L. Rolls' assessment. However, stewards reminded her of her obligation to inform them of any proposed change in riding tactics.

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