MV SEPT 24 - SPACECRAFT ROCKETS TOWARDS TOORAK

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, September 26, 2010

Moonee Valley, September 24, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 3m. Penetrometer 4.63.
4YO + Open Handicap - 1600m.
Time: 1-36.63. 600m Sectional: 34.90. (Carrying 58kg).
1 Spacecraft; 2 Playwright; 3 Syndrome.
Margins: 1.5L x 0.75L.

Spacecraft continued his winning way with a resounding victory for Caulfield trainer Mick Price and champion jockey Damien Oliver.

The victory made it three wins on the trot for the son of Galileo, after wins in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes at Morphettville Park and a last start victory at Moonee Valley in an Open Handicap.

Spacecraft earnings are now up to $250,000 after five wins from eleven starts and he will chase a start in next month’s Group One Toorak Handicap to be run at his home track of Caulfield.

Price has already won two Toorak Handicaps with the old stable stalwart Red Dazzler in 2006 and the 2008 running of the event with Alamossa.

From his wide barrier of eight from the tricky 1600 metre start, Oliver elected to ride the entire with cover and the pair settled in third last position, eight lengths off the leader.

Rounding the turn at the top of the track the pacemaker was Syndrome for Mike Moroney and Glen Boss. Sitting outside the leader was enigmatic gelding Playwright for regular rider Steven King.

The tempo of the event was only moderate and this allowed Oliver and Spacecraft to close to within six lengths of the leaders as the field passed the school on the side of the track.

Playwright and King injected some speed into the race inside the 600 metres and this pair went stride for stride with Syndrome.

Oliver was starting to get busy on the odds on favourite Spacecraft who was still back in the field, but was brought three wide to come with his run.

Rounding the final turn, Playwright wrestled the lead away from Syndrome and jockey King sat down to ask the six-year-old for the supreme effort.

Spacecraft had reduced the deficit to only three lengths in the early part of the straight and was looming ominously under hard riding from Oliver.

Playwright kicked strongly under the urgings over King, but the class factor of Spacecraft kicked in at the 100 metre mark when the entire struck the front and drew away over the concluding stages to score a comfortable one and a half-length win over Playwright with Syndrome back in third position.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mick Price: “The race didn't work out exactly as we planned, but that is why you put the gun jockeys on.

“I thought it was a good move by Damien to just bide his time. He came out at the right time.”

Jockey Damien Oliver: “He made a good searching run there. It was a good effort.

“On the turn I was confident I was going to get there, but it was a matter of how much the run was going to take out of him. He did a good job.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Spacecraft): 1.60.
The winner was the favourite.

Horse to follow: It’s onwards and upwards for the Mick Price trained Spacecraft. Price will set the Galileo entire for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over 1600 metres and the horse will be well suited at handicap conditions.

The horse appears to be adding another dimension to his racing style with the ability to relax and settle an added bonus.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Correct weight was delayed when L Nolen rider of Testa Jesta asked to view the official video of the start. On examination of the video Stewards were satisfied that a fair start had been effected and correct weight was declared.

Testa Jesta was slow to begin.

Orchestra Stalls and Reprisal bumped on jumping away.

Bonindi raced wide without cover for a majority of the race.

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