FLEM OCT 03 - SISTINE ANGEL HEAVEN SENT

By Taron Clarke | Monday, October 4, 2010

Flemington, October 3, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer 4.77.
Edward Manifold Stakes (Group 2) 3YO Fillies SW - 1600m.
Time: 1-38.12. 600m Sectional: 35.31. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Sistine Angel; 2 Brazil Pulse; 3 Shamrocker.
Margins: 0.2L x 1.3L.

Consistent filly Sistine Angel proved she is the horse to beat in Wednesday week’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas with a resounding victory in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes.

The Andrew Noblet trained filly burst the bubble of some high profile fillies including Divorces and Queensland visitor Ringa Ringa Rosie with a barnstorming finish.

Craig Williams took the mount on the daughter of Testa Rossa and the duo started from the wide barrier of fifteen. Williams elected to snag the Caulfield trained filly out towards the rear of the field shortly after the start.

Back towards the tail of the field was the favourite Divorces for Peter Snowden and Mark Zahra after the filly had jumped awkwardly and lost considerable ground.

The pace was genuine at the head of proceedings with Sayahailmary and Lorna’s Lass matching motors to the 1200 metre turn.

Suited by the early speed was the unbeaten filly Brazilian Pulse trained by Mike Moroney and ridden by Corey Brown. Brown settled the Captain Rio filly in the second half of the field some eight lengths from the leader.

Tracking Brown’s every move was Williams on board Sistine Angel.

Sayahailmary rounded the home turn four horses off the inside fence and this allowed Ringa Ringa Rosie to rail through and strike the front at the 400 metre marker.

Wide on the track Brazilian Pulse had cruised up under a hold from Corey Brown and looked to be full of running.

Brown pushed the go button inside the 300 metres and Brazilian Pulse raced up to hit the front from Ring Ringa Rosie closest to the inside rail.

Out beyond the centre of the track was Sistine Angel who was winding up strongly under the hard whip riding of Craig Williams.

Williams and Sistine Angel gradually wore down Brazilian Pulse’s margin over the final 150 metres to claim the front at the 50 metre mark and score a narrow but convincing victory by a head. There was a further length-and-a-quarter back to Shamrocker back in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Andrew Noblet: “Really good effort from a long way back. I said to one of the owners: ‘He’s confident here, he’s come off pretty early’ … he’s just got there on the line.

“She’s going the right way for nine days’ time (Thousand Guineas). The Oaks is out. The Thousand Guineas and maybe, maybe, the Coolmore, but I don’t know.

“She just had bad luck last preparation.

“This time things have worked out for her. She has a beautiful attitude and Craig (Williams) says he wants to ride her all the way through.”

Jockey Craig Williams: “Today she drew the outside and we had a couple of plans. One was to make sure she jumps … and it was great to see her jump.

“If she can draw a barrier in the Thousand Guineas, that’s going to aid her because she can be close.

“I just like the way she picked up. I have a lot of time for the second horse and when it kicked clear I thought, oh gee, I can’t get my judgement wrong here because it’s too important … and she lifted and won with a little ease in the end.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sistine Angel): 9.00 out to 10.00 into 9.00.
Favourite Divorces 3.80 out to 4.20 into 4.00. Finished eleventh.

Horse to Follow: Craig Williams has formed a formidable partnership with Sistine Angel and the pair looks set to continue the run in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in a week and a half’s time.

Lee Freedman’s well bred filly Dizlago hit the line strongly back in the field and looks on target for an Oaks berth over the Flemington carnival.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to the commencement of the meeting trainer Mr J McArdle advised Stewards that Lorna’s Lass would be ridden more positive today if circumstances permit and an announcement was made. Lorna’s Lass settled outside the leader.

After the running of Race 5 Mr J O’Shea advised Stewards that Ambers Waltz would be ridden back today due to the wide draw. Ambers Waltz settled at the rear.

Divorces jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.

Near the 1500m Dizlago shifted in and made contact with Precious Lorraine before being straightened and shortly after this had to be eased to avoid the heels of Willow Creek which shifted in when not fully clear. L Nolen rider of Willow Creek was advised to exercise more care.

Near the 800m Brazilian Pulse (NZ) which was racing wide without cover, was then forced to cover more ground when taken out by Shamrocker (NZ).

After passing the 700m Ambers Waltz raced up onto the heels of Divorces and as a result was checked and shifted out abruptly inconveniencing Precious Lorraine and Dizlago.

Shortly after this incident Sistine Angel was eased off the heels of Brazilian Pulse (NZ).

Ringa Ringa Rosie pulled hard.

M Zahra (Divorces) explained that after having missed the start this was the only contributing factor he could put down to the disappointing performance today. A post-race veterinary examination of Divorces revealed no abnormalities.

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