MV SEPT 24 - PRECEDENCE CUPS BOUND

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, September 26, 2010

Moonee Valley, September 24, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 3m. Penetrometer 4.63.
JRA Cup (Group 3) Quality Handicap - 2040m.
Time: 2-05.31. 600m Sectional: 34.76. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Precedence; 2 Rainbow Styling; 3 Linton.
Margins: 1.25L x 1.0L.

Bart Cummings landed a race to race double at Moonee Valley on Friday night when up and coming stayer Precedence landed a defining victory in the Listed JRA Cup over the Cox Plate journey of 2040 metres.

After an eye catching run at Weight for Age in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley a fortnight earlier, Precedence was always going to be well served back to handicap conditions.

Sent out the punters elect the five year old Zabeel gelding was piloted for the first time by Sydney based jockey Blake Shinn.

Shinn took over the mount from heavyweight jockey Steven Arnold and will now stay with the galloper as he surges towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Precedence has 50.5 kilograms for the Caulfield Cup and currently lies in 42nd on the order of entry and could possibly be re-handicapped for his JRA Cup win. RVL handicapper will announce if the horse will receive a penalty on Monday.

From the start at the top of the straight, Rainbow Styling and Avienus were sent forward from their wide barriers and kicking up from his inside barrier draw was the Mark Kavanagh trained runner Hastein.

Third-up in the JRA Cup, Shinn bounced Precedence out and made an attempt to settle midfield down the straight the first time. The pair were caught three wide passing the winning post the first time outside of second favourite Linton for Michael Rodd.

Hastein set only a moderate speed down the side of the track and passing the 1600 metre start Shinn was able to manoeuvre the favourite into the one out line in sixth position, five lengths off the leader.

The order of the field remained the same as the leaders negotiated the turn at the top of the track. Favourite Precedence continued to get a beautiful run in transit with his main danger Linton now on his back and tracking his every move.

Inside the 600 metres and the pressure really went on up front. A line of four runners which included Rainbow Styling, Hastein, Avienus and Emblem of Liberty (four wide) were sprawled across the track.

Stalking the line of leaders was the favourite Precedence. Shinn jumped on to Emblem of Liberty’s back as the field commenced the run for the judge.

Via a saloon passage along the inside running, Rainbow Styling for Jim Cassidy railed through to hold a narrow length margin over the tiring Avienus in the early part of the straight.

Emblem of Liberty was battling on strongly, but the fresh horse on the scene was the favourite Precedence.

Shinn and Precedence raced up to grab Rainbow Styling and Emblem of Liberty at 150 metre mark and the son of Zabeel raced away to put the event beyond doubt.

Linton made up good late ground to grab third placing, but all honours went with the Bart Cummings trained galloper.

Precedence bounded to the line to score by a length and a quarter over Rainbow Styling with a further length back to Linton in third placing.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Bart Cummings Melbourne Foreman Reg Fleming: “He’s always been good, but it’s just his head which lets him down a bit.

“He gets on the bit like the last time in up in Sydney.

"He has always been a good horse.

"If he settles the sky is the limit. He gets pulling and when he gets pulling you can't stop him.

"If he hadn't pulled in the Sydney Cup he would have lapped them."

Jockey Blake Shinn: “He pulled quite hard early in his racing career, but he has got better and better.

"Today he gave me a lovely ride and the speed was genuine throughout which helped him get into a nice rhythm.

"He kept building and he was going to win the race at the turn."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Precedence): 2.80 out to 3.20.
The winner was the favourite.

Horse to follow: Precedence continued his excellent form this campaign after several eye catching runs in unsuitable races. Clearly a handicapper at this stage of his career, he will be one of the Cups King’s many Caulfield and Melbourne Cup runners this year.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Passing the winning post on the first occasion Emblem Of Liberty (SAF) got its head up when being restrained.

Also just after passing the winning post on the first occasion, Precedence (NZ) shifted in momentarily before being straightened however, before doing so, he did tighten the running of Linton.

Belscenica raced wide without cover.

Near the 400m Emblem Of Liberty (SAF) shifted in and bumped Avienus.

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