FLEM SEPT 04 - NO DOUBTING JACK IN BOBBY LEWIS

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, September 5, 2010

Flemington, September 4, 2010.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.02.
Bobby Lewis Quality (Group 3) 4YO and Up Quality - 1200m.
Time: 1-11.48. 600m Sectional: 34.25. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Doubtful Jack; 2 Beltrois; 3 About Ready.
Margins: 3.3L x 0.2L.

The most impressive horse of the Melbourne winter Doubtful Jack continued his rise to the top with a dominant victory in the Listed Bobby Lewis Quality over the journey of 1200 metres.

After amassing three consecutive victories at Flemington during the winter months culminating with a resounding 6.5 length romp in the Winter Championship Final, Doubtful Jack stepped up where he left off, showing a distinct liking for a rain affected surface.

The favourite for the sprint was the boom Sydney sprinter Love Conquers All. Regular rider Jim Cassidy made the trip to Flemington and although a little easy in the market, Love Conquers all was still sent out a pronounced favourite.

In a race devoid of a natural front-runner, Doubtful jack settled within a length of the pacemaker About Ready. On its outside was the favourite Love Conquers All, who looked to travel well within himself.

The field approached the course proper and jockey Jim Cassidy quickly placed the favourite under extreme pressure. The Mossman entire was losing ground at a rapid rate and quickly dropped out of contention in a matter of strides.

It was a different story though for the second favourite Doubtful Jack, who literally pulled stable jockey Luke Nolen out of the saddle as the pair raced through to hit the front at the 300 metre mark.

With an explosive turn of foot, the son of Not a Single Doubt raced clear of the field and under the urgings of Nolen put up three lengths on About Ready and Beltrois.

Eased down over the concluding stages, Doubtful Jack maintained his unbeaten Flemington record of four victories from as many starts. The Moody trained galloper beat the consistent Beltrois and early leader About Ready.

Doubtful Jack will now progress to the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and then on to the Group One Toorak Handicap both to be run at Caulfield in the coming month.

No doubt trainer Peter Moody will be hoping for a rain affected surface for Doubtful Jack when he next steps out as the galloper now boasts a wet track record of five starts for four comprehensive wins.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Moody: “That was very pleasing. There is no doubt he excels on the wet ground and he has just been dominant and who’s to say the wet isn’t going to hang around.

“He has had a couple of weeks at Belgrave South and a couple of weeks with Peter Clarke up at Murchison. We just poked him around nice and quiet and he was a very fit horse.

“He had five or six runs during the winter and we just kept him ticking over with the aim to be to go to the Rupert Clarke and the Toorak.

“Traditionally September has been our wettest month for the past four or five years. I just hope the rain hasn’t gone off early.

“He is such a laid back character. He doesn’t knock himself around. He looks after himself and he is just really enjoying it.

“He and Ghostmilk stick their head over the box door with a big smile on their face every time there is a shower of rain. Unfortunately she didn’t make it here today, but he has flown the flag.”

Jockey Luke Nolen: “Yes, he is pretty healthy. He has a little paddle around Moody’s joint on the water walker.

“He has come back well. He had that residual fitness, but I don’t think we can pigeon hole him as just a wet tracker. I can’t wait to see what he does on top of the ground.

“Everyone has got him pegged as a bit of wet tracker, but I think the catalyst in his form turnaround was the bigger track at Flemington where he gets the chance to drop the bit through the run, but because of the big spacious track he gets the chance to pick it up and glide through his gears and hit top speed.

“Yeah, but if we had it worked out we’d be all rich I suppose.

“It’s a bit funny. It’s a little bit like the day I won the Newmarket Handicap … not quite as eerie but that sort of day.

“Maybe they are just plotting their courses and just following the rest like that day when I won on him (Wanted).

“I don’t know what Pete’s got in store for him, but we won’t get carried away, we will just take it one race at a time…..but he is heading in the right direction.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Doubtful Jack): 3.10 out to 3.50.
Favourite Love Conquers All 2.10 out to 2.70 into 2.40. Finished last.

Horse to Follow: It is hard to go past the effort of the winner who brought up four consecutive victories at Flemington. The favourite Love Conquers All was disappointing on face value, however can also be forgiven after noting the findings of the steward’s report.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Chasm was a late scratching at 2.53pm due to the track downgrade and there were no alterations to betting.

Soon after the start Leica Larrikin which was slow to begin was then checked between Life To The Full which was taken out by Doubtful Jack and at the same time About Ready shifted in after being taken in slightly by Love Conquers All.

Near the 400m Leica Larrikin which was laying out shifted in after being taken in slightly by Love Conquers All and in doing so inconvenienced Life To The Full.

M Rodd reported at scale that We’re Gonna Rock did not handle the track conditions today.

J Cassidy could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance of Love Conquers All and added that whilst his mount was inclined to run away from About Ready, he was under pressure prior to the 600m and J Cassidy did not blame the track conditions.

A post-race veterinary examination of Love Conquers All revealed the horse to have Atrial Fibrillation and co-trainer Mr W Hawkes was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness including the results of an ECG conducted before and after a 1000m gallop must be submitted before being permitted to race again. A post-race swab sample was also taken for analysis.

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