DOOM SEPT 25 - PINPOINT ACCURACY RIGHT ON THE MARK

By Graham Potter | Monday, September 27, 2010

Doomben, September 25, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 5m. Penetrometer: 5.20.
1MW Handicap (Special Conditions) - 1630m.
Time: 1-39.44. Last 600m: 34.91. (Carrying 52kg).
1 Pinpoint Accuracy; 2 Hangover Henry; 3 Eddie Rapido.
Margins: 0.50L; 0.50L.

The Kelso Wood trained Pinpoint Accuracy took control of the race early and the four-year-old was never headed as she chased to the line in determined fashion to secure her third victory in sixteen starts.

The front-running role was out of sync with the Pinpoint Accuracy’s normal racing pattern, but it was a means to an end on the day as, with nobody else keen to lead, Michael Hellyer was allowed to dictate the way the race unfolded to the advantage of his mount and the duo had plenty up their sleeve as they kicked on with meaning halfway up the straight.

Hangover Henry was always the closest threat to Pinpoint Accuracy. The David Murphy trained runner loped along a length back to the outside of the leader until the home turn where he responded well enough to the quickening of the tempo, but without finding that vital bit extra required to turn a game second placed finish into a winning performance.

A complicating factor was Hangover Henry’s tendency to lay in behind the leader as he chased Pinpoint Accuracy the whole length of the straight. His effort came up 0.50 lengths short.

Mr Nicholas was the other obvious danger turning for home. The grey had been given the run of the race in third place on the rail early on and jockey Damian Browne had the gelding perfectly poised to strike as the race came down to the business end of affairs.

Still saving ground along the inside, Mr Nicholas actually went past Hangover Henry and moved up menacingly to challenge Pinpoint Accuracy. Like Hangover Henry, who was battling on, Mr Nicholas just could not raise the ante enough to get Pinpoint Accuracy to fold. In the end it was Mr Nicholas who gave up the ghost, tiring significantly over the final 75m to fall back in fourth placing.

Hangover Henry stayed on for second, while Eddie Rapido, who was running on well, got up to snare third place. Kinsmate was the other finishing off well. He finished a close-up fifth as only 1.30 lengths covered the first five runners across the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelso Wood: “Actually she hasn’t been out because she doesn’t spell well in winter. I kept her at home … just out in the yard during the day and I just kept her ticking over, you know.

“We just worked it out. I thought there was no speed early. With the light weight and that, I thought we’d go forward.

“She’s had bad experiences before … clambered up in the field and that. She was flattened in the (Doomben) Roses. She has got a bit of ability this filly. I’ve been very kind to her.”

Jockey Michael Hellyer: “Kelso (Wood) told me there was no speed in the race and, had I gone back, they would have just walked, so Kelso said just go forward without bustling her.

“No one wanted to take the lead so I thought with 3kg off we might as well dictate the speed and take it from there.

“She did settle well enough mid-race. She was a bit fired up going into that first turn there, but once I got to about the 1100 she settled well.

“She hasn’t been really sprinting of late, so I thought to myself when I get to the 500 … because I’d gone pretty easy … I’d let her roll. I did that and I was very confident coming around the home turn.

“When I was going to the gates I took her along the fence and was just cantering around. I thought it looked real soft so I thought I would just come off a little bit.

“You know, it’s probably a bit worse on that fence there, but I always knew Mr Nicholas was there. I wasn’t going to really let him out. I was already half to one off.

“I was under pressure but, like I said, she hasn’t been sprinting of late and I knew that … so I thought I’d let her roll on the turn and try to get away with it. She did find a bit, but not as much as usual.

“So we were under pressure, but I just roared at her and she kept finding. To her credit she just kept digging deep.

“She’s not a leader … or I wouldn’t say she is a leader, but under the circumstances today with no weight on her back, we just had to take advantage of it.

“Yeah, I’ve got a twelve month extension for my apprenticeship. My apprenticeship now runs until November 6, 2011.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pinpoint Accuracy): 8.00 out to 10.00.
Favourite (Mr Shadow Boxer): 2.40 out to 2.70. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Eddie Rapido (D. Craven) was slow to begin.

Eddie Rapido over-raced during the middle stages.

Rounding the home turn Mr Shadow Boxer (M. Cahill) shifted out and made contact with Interview (J. Byrne).

Hangover Henry (C. Munce) laid in behind the heels of Pinpoint Accuracy (M. Hellyer) in the straight, placing its rider at a disadvantage in testing the horse.

Eddie Rapido was momentarily held up for clear running passing the 200m.

Stewards sought an explanation from M. Cahill in regards to the seemingly disappointing performance of Mr Shadow Boxer.

M. Cahill stated that whilst the pace of the race did not suit horses that raced back in the field, he was of the opinion that Mr Shadow Boxer did not appreciate the soft surface today. A post-race veterinary examination of Mr Shadow Boxer revealed no abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation J. Byrne in regards to the seemingly disappointing performance of Interview.

J. Byrne stated that the pace of the race in the early and middle stages placed his horse at a disadvantage in that the race developed into a sprint home and whilst Interview only found the line fairly, he was not dissatisfied with the horse's performance in all of the circumstances.

A post-race veterinary examination of Interview revealed no abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation from trainer K. Wood in regards to the improved performance of Pinpoint Accuracy (M. Hellyer) today.

Mr Wood stated that at the horse's most recent start it was forced to race in amongst other horses and in his opinion this did not suit the mare. Mr Wood added that on the Sunday following the race it became apparent that the horse had suffered an injury to the eye which required veterinary treatment.

In the circumstances stewards issued a charge under AR. 140(c) against Mr Wood for failing in his obligations to report to the stewards any condition that may have affected the horse's past performance.

In assessing penalty, stewards took into account Mr Wood's forthright evidence in respect to the matter and his unblemished record in respect of similar matters over 40 years as a trainer. Mr Wood was fined $300.

Stewards also questioned Mr Wood in regards to the tactics employed on Pinpoint Accuracy today whereby the horse was ridden forward in the early stages to the lead, which is in contrast to the horse's normal racing pattern.

Mr Wood stated that he was of the opinion that there was a distinct lack of speed in the race and he issued instructions for M. Hellyer to take up a forward position. Stewards agreed that there was a lack of speed in today's race, however reminded Mr Wood of his obligations to advise stewards of any change in tactics.

After the running of Race 1, following rain prior to the race and during the course of the event, stewards reassessed the track and downgraded it to Slow 6, retrospective to this race.

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