DOOM AUG 14 - EMMA’S HEART RUNS AWAY WITH IT

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Doomben, August 14, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 2m. Penetrometer - 5.3.
1MW Handicap (Fillies & Mares) - 1350m.
Time: 1-20.27. (Carrying 54.5kg).
1 Emma's Heart; 2 La Bella Luisa; 3 Pinpoint Accuracy.

Trainer Bruce Brown has always had a good opinion of the Lion Heart mare Emma’s Heart. A subtle change of gear (bit lifter on for the first time) and a step up in distance (from 1200m to 1350m) were just part of the recipe for success for the four-year-old chestnut who clearly relished her task when comprehensively outgunning her rivals at Doomben on Saturday.

Emma’s Heart landed in the leading line. She was held four wide momentarily, before jockey Eddie Wilkinson gave her the green light to stretch out, push forward and cross to take up the running at the head of affairs from Craiglea Blondie who settled in second place, close-up behind the leader.

A bit of pressure was on early as Emma’s Heart and Craiglea Blondie’s strong gallop carried them four lengths clear of Yamarjie and Fly To Win, who were disputing third place, halfway through the sweep to the turn.

Craiglea Blondie stayed with Emma’s Heart until straightening, were she tried to go up and eyeball the leader, but Wilkinson hadn’t moved on the front-runner yet. When he asked Emma’s Heart to take it to the next level, the Brown trained runner quickly left Craiglea Blondie (and the rest of the field) in her wake.

Her lead was all of four to five lengths halfway up the straight, by which time she comfortably had her race won, irrespective of who came out of the pack.

After her sterling effort from the jump to her race-winning move up the straight, Emma’s Heart was entitled to tire slightly over the final 75m.

In the end the winning margin was cut back to 0.80 lengths by La Bella Luisa. The favourite Pinpoint Accuracy finished a further half-length back in third spot.

Both of these minor place-getters were hitting the line well, but in the context of this race, their efforts represented a case of ‘too little, too late.’

Both should be worth a second glance next time out.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Brown: “She’s been a bit unlucky her last two starts. Hit the running rail … got her tongue over the bit, so I put the lifter on her today.

“Her mother (Emma’s Affair) was a great 1300m horse.

“I said to Eddie (Wilkinson), look, if no-one wants to lead, just take her to the front and control the race.

“She got a nice soft run from the 800 to the 600, then the other horse unfortunately took us on, so we went a little bit quicker. Yeah, and I think she will improve on that run too.

“Earlier in her career I really had high hopes for her, so I guess you could say she has been a bit disappointing. Having said that, you know, last campaign she drew outside alleys eight of ten starts, I suppose. That makes it difficult.

“I still think she is six months away from showing her best. Later on she will get up in distance. I reckon she might even run 2000m. She’s got a natural stride and is a natural cruiser.”

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “She got across them pretty easy and she was able to travel within herself.

“She actually gave a really good kick. She got attacked from the 700m out. I thought we had gone a bit soon, but when I started to give her a bit of a squeeze, she kicked very well.

“I was trying to nurse her a bit approaching the turn and then steal a bit of a break in the straight … but, anyway, she toughed it out. It was a very good win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Emma’s Heart): 4.60 out to 4.80 in to 4.60.
Favourite (Pinpoint Accuracy): 3.00 out to 3.40 in to 3.20.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed when the tongue tie of Belletrist had to be reaffixed.

Near the 1000m Paralegal (M. Walker) shifted in of its own accord and made contact with the running rail, becoming unbalanced.

Stewards sought an explanation from M. Cahill in regards to the seemingly disappointing performance of Belletrist.

M. Cahill advised that Belletrist was quite fractious during its preliminary and when parading behind the barriers. He added that he was forced to race three wide without cover with 58kg and also felt that the moderate mid-race tempo disadvantaged Belletrist.

M. Cahill further stated that whilst the horse accelerated for a short distance in the straight, her finishing effort was disappointing, but only due to the circumstances he had outlined.

Trainer T. Hall stated that Belletrist appeared a little unsettled prior to the race, adding that he felt the sharp rise in weight had an effect on the horse's performance today, along with the fact that it was its tenth run this campaign.

Mr Hall advised stewards that the mare would now be sent for a spell. A post-race veterinary examination of Belletrist revealed the presence of blood in the mouth and a slight laceration to the near-hind pastern.

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