DOOM AUG 28 - DEACON STRIKES BACK

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Doomben, August 28, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 6m. Penetrometer - 4.6.
Open Handicap - 1640m.
Time: 1-39.50. (Carrying 56.5).
1 Deacon; 2 Rebounded; 3 Mr Slick.

The David Murphy trained Deacon set the record straight by bouncing back from his disappointing result last time to win in facile fashion at Doomben on Saturday.
The was no question that Deacon would be worth another chance after his previous effort. On that occasion circumstances contrived to force Deacon to race contrary to his normal racing pattern, so the fact had he was unable to hit the line with any conviction after leading was no surprise.

The question was whether he would be good enough to repay his followers this time in.

As it turned out, those who put their money down did not have one anxious moment.

Deacon played his part at both ends. He jumped well from pole position. He settled beautifully, holding his position on the rail in sixth place some four-and-a-half lengths off the frontrunner.

He went to sleep mid-race, yet was still within three lengths of the lead as Mr Slick went up to challenge the long-time leader Wild Hero as the field turned for home. It was only then that jockey Michael Cahill got busy on the seven-year-old.

He needed to, having to push out four wide into clear running. Once there Deacon took some time to build up momentum, but he did just that.

As Rebounded went up in the centre of the track to head Wild Hero and Mr Slick at the 200m mark, Deacon was in still two-and-a-half lengths off the action. In a couple of strides though he went past the main fancy Rightson, who was battling under his big weight, into fourth place … and that’s when his acceleration really kicked in.

In full cry now, Deacon simply breezed past the leading trio, getting to the front inside the final 100m before going on to finish the job with the minimum of fuss. The winning margin was two lengths.

Deacon is now a ten-time winner from thirty-four starts. His stake earnings are closing in on the $250 000 mark.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Murphy: “As I’ve said before, last time when he went forward it was against his natural racing pattern and it didn’t work out. The horse can be difficult. He got a bump on the inside and fired up. Mick (Cahill) then made the decision to go forward in the circumstances. It didn’t work. It was just unfortunate. That’s racing.

“I was actually looking at taking his down for that 1800m race at Rosehill today (the Premier’s Cup), but after last week’s fiasco I decided against it. If he would have won well there, I would have taken him down, but I left him here in the end. The money’s still the same colour.

“I said to Mick (Cahill) … I said there is a 2100m race next Saturday. I said to ride him with that in mind. He can be a fiery horse on the track. He can pull hard. I thought if we could give him a nice mile race today and ride him nice and quiet … then we could also go to the 2100m race, you know.

“Mick’s got beautiful hands and he is a experienced rider. If the horse settles and doesn’t pull, he can finish off. He’s got a short, sharp sprint. He can’t round them up, but if he is in striking range within the furlong pole he can hit the line pretty well.

“He has won a 2200m race at Eagle Farm. I don’t think he is a genuine stayer. What he is, I think, he is a mile horse … a nine furlong horse with pace on.

“He is out of Jetball mate, so he is bred stoutly on his dam’s side. He’s getting older so you never know, he might get further. He won’t get any fitter than he is now.”

Jockey Michael Cahill: “He (David Murphy) is doing a good job with the horse. He showed a really good turn of foot today.

“They say barriers win races. He drew one today. There was good speed and he was able to get smothered away and switch off. He relaxed well today. He showed a good turn of foot. It was quite a soft win.

“When he is left without cover he does want to fight you. When he got shoved out three wide the other day he wanted to get his head up and over-race, so he does need things to go his way.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Deacon): 4.20 out to 4.80.
Favourite (Rightson): 2.50 out to 2.70 in to 2.60. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shuffle The Cash (B. Stewart) raced wide throughout.

Yummy (C. Munce) was momentarily held up for clear running rounding the home turn.

Yummy had difficulty obtaining clear running inside the 100m.

A post-race veterinary examination of Beartracker (L. Cassidy) revealed the gelding had sustained lacerations to both hind legs consistent with being galloped on.

Stewards sought an explanation from J. Byrne, the rider of Rightson, in regards to him not taking advantage of a run which presented itself shortly after entering the home straight between Mr Slick (J. Holder) and Rebounded (M. Radecker).

J. Byrne stated that when the run became apparent to him he had every intention of placing his mount into it, however when he put Rightson under hard riding it failed to quicken.

J. Byrne added that when he was unable to make use of the run, he felt it was in the best interests of the horse to move it to the outside of Rebounded where there was a clear and uninterrupted run for Rightson to the finish line.

J. Byrne further added that Rightson was up 3kg from its most recent performance and felt this was a significant contributor to the horse being unable to quicken into the run shortly after straightening.

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