FLEM OCT 03 - SEPOY SHINES ON DEBUT
By Taron Clarke | Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Flemington, October 3, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer 4.77.
Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed) 2YO SW - 1000m.
Time: 57.58. 600m Sectional: 33.13. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Sepoy; 2 Delago’s Lad; 3 Stop Sookin.
Margins: 1.0L x 0.5L.
The Darley Empire claimed the first two year old event of the 2010/11 Victorian racing season when Sepoy landed the money for the ever emerging combination of Peter Snowden and jockey Mark Zahra.
The chestnut is by up and coming shuttle stallion Elusive Quality and is out of Watchful, a Danehill sired mare who is a full sister to the 1999 Queensland Derby heroine Camarena.
Starting the punters elect in oncourse operations, Sepoy and Zahra where away only fairly at barrier rise and the pair settled in the second half of the field.
The David Hayes trained Pimento, with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle, showed an abundance of early speed and crossed the field from their outside barrier to lead the field on the inside running rail.
As the field raced on to the course proper at the 450 metre mark, the two year olds were tight and compact across the straight with only three lengths first to last.
Pimento was the first horse placed under pressure and she was joined by Delago’s Lad at the 300 metre pole.
Looming large out wide on the track was the Darley galloper Sepoy. The colt raced up to join Pimento and Delago’s Lad at the clock tower with the remainder of the small field only battling.
Zahra gave the Snowden trained galloper a flick with the stick at the 100 metres and Sepoy lengthened nicely and put pay to his rivals in a matter of strides.
In a professional debut Sepoy responded well to the hard riding of jockey Zahra and the pair held a length spare over Delgao’s Lad in second who battled on strongly with a half-length back to the outsider of the field Stop Sookin back in third position.
WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Snowden: “He didn’t quite get the cover I was hoping to get. He was a little bit keen early, but he relaxed and showed a good turn of foot. He was quite strong on the line.
“It’s early days yet, but he’s an honest horse. He’s a winner today and has done his job.”
Jockey Mark Zahra: “I really liked him. I don’t think he’s just a two-year-old. Once he relaxed it was just a matter of me waiting to press the button and he did the rest.
“Credit to the horse, he was able to face the breeze the whole way and pick up and kick towards the end.
“He had trialled really well. His work’s been good. I expected him to run well and he did.”
PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sepoy): 2.40 out to 3.00 into 2.80.
The winner was the favourite.
Horse to Follow: Sepoy was very professional on debut. He raced tractably throughout the 1000 metre dash and is held in high regard by the Snowden camp. Stop Sookin found the line well at his debut and looks to be well suited a little further in distance.
STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
N Hall was issued with a severe reprimand for accepting a ride on Iota when found to be overweight. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account N Hall’s good recent record under this rule.
Chateauneuf Dupape (NZ) was fractious in the barriers prior to the start and subsequently underwent a veterinary examination after the race having performed below market expectations.
Delago’s Lad shifted in at the start and bumped Sandhurst.
Iota jumped away a little awkwardly, shifted in and inconvenienced Stop Sookin.
Passing the 300m Stop Sookin was held up and was then shifted out approaching the 200m to obtain clear running.
A post-race veterinary examination of Chateauneuf Dupape (NZ) revealed no abnormalities and a swab sample was taken for analysis.
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