DOOM SEPT 11 - ASPIRAN JUST THE TONIC FOR PUNTERS

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Doomben, September 11, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 5.3.
Open Handicap - 1010m.
Time: 58.45. Last 600m: 34.07. (Carrying 54.5kg).
1 Aspiran; 2 Falco Star; 3 Carry The Clubs.
Margins: 0.75L; Short-Half-head.

The Victor Vagg trained Aspiran scored her second win in four starts since moving down from Rockhampton to tackle city company and she did so in his trademark, front-running style.

Aspiran won convincingly enough (by 4.25 lengths) at Rockhampton on June 26 and that success prompted Vagg to eye the more lucrative market to the south.

That change of scenery paid immediate dividends when Aspiran beat Royal Saint by 1.75 lengths over 1110m at Doomben on July 17.

Her follow-up outing, over 1200m at Eagle Farm, was always going to be more difficult given the doubt about her prowess over anything longer than the short sprint. This time there was no cigar, but there was also no disgrace when finishing in fourth place, 2.30 lengths behind Kneel And Raise on August 7.

Aspiran then dropped back in distance to contest a 1020m event on August 21. She started favourite in the run at Doomben and, while she did put in her usual determined effort, Carry The Clubs arrived late to nail her in the final few strides and relegate her into second place.

A subtle change … this time back to 1010m (ten metes can make a difference) and Aspiran this time looked to be in the pound seats as she appeared to have every bit as good a chance as any of her rivals.

She had met all but one of the six runners who lined up against her in her last start. Carry The Clubs, the only runner to beat her home on that occasion, was now 2kg worse off at the weights for a neck advantage. By way of contrast Falco Star (2kg), Mister Celestial (1.5kg), Backstabber (1kg) and The Chanster (0.5kg) were all better off at the weights with Aspiran, but the way they got home last time, when finishing between 2.60 lengths and 3.30 lengths off the winner suggested they might still be hard-pressed to reel in the frontrunner. The remaining runner in the line-up Braebrook, also looked to be held at the weights by Aspiran.

There were certainly no surprises as the pattern of the race unfolded. Apprentice jockey Justin Wood jumped Aspiran into an immediate lead. Once there, Wood was content to hold the rail and allow The Chanster and Mister Celestial (three wide) to race handy on his outside.

Carry The Clubs (who moved up to race on the heels of Aspiran) and Backstabber held a watching brief close-up behind the pace, while Braebrook settled back in the field with only Falco Star behind him. The latter had got a long way back after being outpaced early.

Wood increased the tempo up front approaching the turn and Mister Celestial and The Chanster were quickly beaten. Backstabber was also under pressure and struggling.

Carry The Clubs still had running in him though. He slipped up along the inside and set sail after Aspiran early in the straight. Braebrook, who saved ground on the turn, was also running on … as was Falco’s Star out wider on the track. Falco Star had it all to do after cornering in last place, some seven lengths off the leader.

Carry The Clubs was game throughout a long chase down the straight, but Aspiran kept holding him at bay.

With Braebrook not finding any more with 150m left to run, it was left to Falco Star to provide one last, late threat as he closed quickly between the 120m and the 50m marks, but the combination of Aspiran’s commitment and the fact that Falco Star’s run peaked over the concluding stages ensured that Aspiran had landed the odds and got the followers of favourites off to a good start on the day. (Favourites would go on to win the first five races on the card).

Aspiran has now won eleven times in twenty-four starts (a strike-rate anyone would envy). The mare has also finished second on seven occasions and she has finished third once.

This latest win took her stake earnings past the $200 000 mark.


WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Justin Wood: “From the gates … she was a little bit fidgety in the gates … the main part Mr Vagg wanted me to do was get her to jump cleanly and get her to the front down by the rail.

“She did that quite easy. We brought it back to a high tempo. She was just high-cruising. I knew she’s got a high cruising speed, so I just sort of let her be happy where she was.

“I came around the turn and I still had quite a good hold on her. I was just easy on her the first half of the straight. I never really had to give her much.

“When I heard a few of them coming I thought we’d better knuckle down and get busy. I gave her a few whacks and she really responded and fought on good to the line.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Aspiran): 2.70 out to 2.80 in to 2.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mister Celestial (E. Kehoe) raced three deep without cover throughout.

Near the 300m Backstabber (M. Bennett) shifted out around the heels of The Chanster (S. Seamer) and brushed Mister Celestial.

Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice C. McIver in regards to the riding of Falco Star, particularly in the middle stages where it appeared that he lost contact with the main body of the field, and in the early stages of the straight where it appeared that he had some difficulty fully testing Falco Star.

Apprentice McIver stated that whilst it is customary for Falco Star to race in a rearward position, the horse today did not feel completely comfortable on the rain-affected surface and he was forced to urge the gelding along just to maintain contact with the main body of the field.

C. McIver further stated that through the middle stages he was reluctant to continue to pressure the horse as he felt it would have a detrimental effect to its capacity to finish the race off.

When asked as to his riding of Falco Star in the straight, C. McIver stated that he had been instructed to carry the whip in his non-preferred right hand as Falco Star had a tendency throughout its career to lay in and this resulted in him having difficulty using his normal vigour.

Trainer L. Birchley advised that Falco Star does not appreciate being ridden vigorously with the whip in the home straight and performs best when ridden in a hands and heels manner.

Stewards accepted C. McIver's explanation and advised Mr Birchley that in future starts it may be a better option to engage a right-hand whip rider.

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