CAUL JULY 31 - WINKS BACK ON TOP AT CAULFIELD

By Taron Clarke | Monday, August 2, 2010

Caulfield, July 31, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 4.0m.
3YO Handicap - 1400m.
Time: 1-24.81. (Carrying 56.5kg).
1 Eraset; 2 Starshot; 3 Imperial Command.

James Winks was able to ride his first metropolitan winner since a horrific fall at Flemington back in April. Winks, who had to recover from injuries such as a broken thumb, lacerated liver and a punctured lung, teamed up with Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien to win after Eraset produced a barnstorming finish.

Eraset had shown a lot of potential in his previous campaign after winning four races on the trot and starting well fancied in some of Victoria’s better class three year old events over the Autumn Carnival.

First up since February, Eraset and Winks began well from his barrier draw of eleven, but was allowed plenty of time to find his feet and settle third last in the field one off the fence as a bunch of horses vied for early supremacy.

As the field reached the first turn, it was Flash Madica who speared out of the pack to lead from Starshot on his outside and three deep facing the breeze was Wassaic. Caught four wide behind the speed was favoured runner Beyond Pardon for jockey Jason Maskiell.

The speed was solid and the first to ease out of the speed duel was Starshot for jockey Dean Yendall. This allowed the Darley runner Wassaic for jockey Steven King to slide across outside the leader Flash Madica. The favourite Beyond Pardon was still caught wide and Maskiell elected to send the Invincible Spirit gelding forward to sit outside the leading duo.

The early speed set by Flash Madica, ensured that the backmarkers namely Eraset and Imperial Command would get their chance in the straight. Winks was content to bide his time in second last position, whilst Peter Mertens aboard Imperial Command was getting a bit hasty bringing the son of Commands three wide as the field approached the home turn.

Wheeling for home, the field broke up and this forced the backmarkers who had something to offer, to come wide with their runs.

Wassaic, who was wide early started to drop out of the battle up front and this allowed Beyond Pardon to slide across one off the fence outside the pacemaker Flash Madica. The widest runner on the swing for home was last start winner Imperial Command. He was flushed out six and seven wide to come with his run. Tracking him through was Winks aboard Eraset.

The field balanced up and raced beyond the 300 metre mark, with Flash Madica showing plenty of fight on the inside.

He had successfully beaten of favourite Beyond Pardon whose wide early run had taken its toll. Coming off Beyond Pardon’s back was Starshot who had enjoyed a trouble free run. Down the centre of the track came Imperial Command and the fresh horse on the scene Eraset who were making their runs together.

Well inside the 200 metre mark, Flash Madica held a length and a half margin over the tiring Beyond Pardon. Starshot had worked through the field to be in a striking position only three lengths off the leader and wider on the track the swoopers Imperial Command and Eraset were still spotting the leader four lengths start.

Flash Madica was starting to paddle at the 100 metre mark and flying down the outside were the swoopers, particularly Eraset.

On his immediate inside was Imperial Command, but it was the finishing burst of Eraset that counted most as he raced up to gather the leader in a matter of strides and he careered away to win by three-quarters of a length from Starshot and a half-length back to Imperial Command in third. The early leader Flash Madica did well to hold on for fourth position after giving a strong kick early in the straight.

The first four horses across the line can each be followed with some confidence into the early part of the spring, with the winner having plenty of upside, particularly if he can continue to find races that are run at a genuine tempo.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Danny O’Brien: “He had decent form. He stepped into better class races in the Autumn probably towards the end of his preparation, but he had a good spell. Obviously it’s still the off season at the moment, but he couldn’t of won more impressively first-up and hopefully might give us something to work with deeper into the spring.

“We were really just looking for a suitable track and Caulfield’s probably been the only track for the last eight to ten weeks that you get a decent surface, so we’ve been happy to wait until we got him on one and the race panned out beautifully for him today.

“We’ll just try and work our way through the races that he is going to be suited in and there’d be no limit on him at the moment. Hopefully we can get him into a better race closer to the start of his preparation rather than the end.

“He’s by Reset. He’s won at a mile and he’d probably get a mile and a quarter, I don’t think he would get a whole lot further than that.

Jockey James Winks: “I was a long way back but they rolled and it worked out perfect. I followed the horse I wanted to in that of Kavanagh’s (Imperial Command) and Luke Nolen (riding Ripleys) did me a little bit of a favour and he sort of shunted him a bit wider on the turn and made Mertens go a bit earlier than he wanted to.

“My horse sucked up. I just waited a little longer until we straightened. He came out and gave a good kick ... fifty metres out he peaked but he was good enough to hold them off.

“It’s great to be back. It is my first city winner since I had a fall. I’ve been around the mark and I’ve hit the board, I think I’ve had fifteen rides and run eleven placing’s so it was getting a bit frustrating.

“I spoke to my day today before I came to the races and we agreed that I’ve been doing everything right and it would all happen ... we were lucky enough today it did."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Eraset): 11.00 out to 15.00.
Favourite (Beyond Pardon): 4.20 out to 5.00 into 4.20. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Briefed which was slow to begin, was then tightened for room between Canny Be A Bulldog and Wassaic.

Savaging (NZ) was slow to begin. Princess Narine shifted in at the start and bumped Eight Cards.

Near the 1200m turn Wassaic and Canny Be A Bulldog bumped. Canny Be A Bulldog then shifted in tightening the running of Princess Narine which had to be eased.

Beyond Pardon which over-raced in the early stages, was then obliged to race wide without cover for the remainder.

Passing the 600m Ripleys shifted out forcing Imperial Command wider on the track. A short distance after, Imperial Command shifted back in and bumped Ripleys.

Rounding the turn near the 400m Eight Cards had to be checked to avoid the heels of Wassaic and was then held up over the concluding stages.

S King reported after the race that his mount Wassaic hung in throughout. A post-race veterinary examination of Wassaic revealed no abnormalities.

A post-race veterinary examination of Canny Be A Bulldog which performed poorly revealed no abnormalities and trainer Mr C Conron was advised that the gelding must trial to the satisfaction of Stewards before racing again.

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