CAUL SEPT 18 - TOFF FOILED AS ANACHEEVA CONTINUES WINNING RUN

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, September 19, 2010

Caulfield, September 18, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.04.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude 3YO C+G SW+P (Group 3) - 1400m.
Time: 1-23.16. 600m Sectional: 34.69. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Anacheeva; 2 Toorak Toff; 3 Skilled.
Margins: 0.4L x 0.2L.

Peter Moody and Luke Nolen’s third leg of a winning treble was brought up by the aptly named Anacheeva in the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres.

Anacheeva having his first start at his home track under race conditions jumped away with the field as the starter caught the line.

Coming off a first up victory in the Listed McKenzie Stakes, Anacheeva was not expected to trouble Toorak Toff. The Golden Rose victor and a well supported favourite for the event. The son of Show a Heart was expected to be too good for his rivals on the basis of two slashing victories at his previous two starts.

Ridden by Damien Oliver, Toorak Toff was caught three wide better than midfield and Oliver sent the chestnut forward in an attempt to get one off the fence. But it wasn’t to be with the hot-pot posted three wide throughout.

After jumping well, Nolen aboard Anacheeva let the son of Anabaa settle in the second half of the field some ten lengths off the leader, who was Innocent Gamble, as the field raced down the side of the track and towards the 800 metres.

Glen Boss aboard Innocent Gamble slowed the speed inside the half mile and this allowed Anacheeva the option to close up to within six lengths of the top.

Swinging for home Damien Oliver sent the favourite Toorak Toff up outside the leading duo of Innocent Gamble and Columbus.

Out from behind the heels of Toorak Toff came last start victor Hollowlea and this forced the Group One winner of the Champagne Stakes, Skilled out four wide.

Anacheeva was able to jump on the back of Skilled as the field entered the lane for the final sprint home.

Toorak Toff surged to the lead under Oliver in the early part of the straight. Intencion managed to rail through and save ground rounding the home turn and was challenging the favourite strongly on the inside. Down the outside of the field came Anacheeva who was starting to hit top gear.

The brother to Derby winner Headturner came with giant strides after Toorak Toff and inside the final 50 metres Anacheeva raced up to grab the lead and score by a head margin over the favourite Toorak Toff. Skilled finished third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Moody: “We gave him the month between runs to keep him fresh enough for the 1400 metres.

“There didn’t look to be a lot of speed on paper, but thankfully due to my two mares winning the previous couple everyone wanted to lead, so it was nice.

“He’s a nice colt. There’s good quality about him. He’s always had that bit of brilliance about him and I am really looking forward to the Caulfield Guineas.”

Jockey Luke Nolen: “He is quite raw. To this stage he is quite boneish … he hasn’t quite furnished physically and he hasn’t quite got there mentally. You really see him when he comes off the bridle. He gets a bit lost and the head comes up a bit.

“It’s pretty exciting. He’s going to be a very nice horse come the autumn, but there’s a good race for him here in three weeks and we will just keep him on the sharp side so hopefully he can repeat the dose.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Anacheeva): 7.00 out to 10.00.
Favourite (Toorak Toff): 2.00 out to 2.45 into 2.25. Finished second.

Horses to follow: The favourite Toorak Toff was set a task by Damien Oliver. After racing three wide for most of the way, the colt was urged to the front rounding the home turn only to be gunned down in the shadows of the post.

The real eye catcher was Rekindled Interest. In last position with 300 metres to go the son of Redoute’s Choice propelled to the line like he was shot out of a cannon to finish on the place-getters heels. A very promising galloper.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Comanche Kid was slow to begin (1L). Toorak Toff raced wide without cover.

D Dunn (Columbus) reported on the scales that his mount over-raced in the early stages with blinkers on for the first time. A veterinary examination of Columbus revealed no abnormalities.

D Dunn, rider of Columbus, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR.137(a), the careless riding being that after passing the 600m, he permitted his mount to shift in, leaving insufficient room for runners to his inside, namely Seriously Good and Intencion, resulting in Seriously Good having to be checked and Intencion being tightened for room.

D Dunn had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight 19 September 2010 and to expire at midnight on 25 September 2010, a total of 7 race meetings (3 metro, 4 provincial).

In arriving at penalty, Stewards took into consideration that the carelessness qualified for the low range category which equates to 7 meetings at this time of the season.

G Boss (Innocent Gamble) stated that his mount laid out quite badly during the race and did not feel right in its action. A veterinary examination of Innocent Gamble revealed no abnormalities. Stewards will undertake to follow up the performance of Innocent Gamble with trainer M Riley on Monday.

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