CAUL OCT 09 - AVENUE CAPS OFF GREAT DAY FOR MOODY AND NOLEN

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, October 10, 2010

Caulfield, October 9, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.28.
Sportingbet Sprint Series Final 4YO+ Mares SW+P (Listed) - 1200m.
Time: 1-09.15. 600m Sectional: 35.69. (Carrying 57.5kg).
1 Avenue; 2 Red Flair; 3 Dorf Command.
Margins: 3.0L x 1.0L.

Peter Moody and Luke Nolen capped off a wonderful afternoon’s racing by combining to score an easy victory with speedy grey mare Avenue.

Moody and Nolen had combined earlier in the day to score victories with Black Caviar and Anacheeva in the feature Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.

Avenue made it back to back victories at the Heath over 1200 metres after taking out the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes in very similar circumstances three weeks earlier.

Nolen and Avenue took advantage of the distinct on-pace bias by leading all the way to score a comprehensive victory.

Avenue jumped from the middle of the line and was sent forward by Nolen to take up the early running with Red Flair on her immediate inside.

Nolen allowed the daughter of ill-fated sire Anabaa some more leather and she slipped two lengths clear and crossed down to the fence ahead of Red Flair who retained second position.

With a wing on every hoof Avenue and Nolen bounded around the turn two lengths clear of Red Flair who was chasing hard and I’m A Hussy on the inside.

Shaken up at the 300 metre pole, Avenue and Nolen were well clear and inside the furlong Nolen gave the mare a slap with the persuader and she lengthened further to put the race beyond doubt.

Nolen had a peep over his left shoulder to take stock off the challengers but Avenue was in a world of her own.

Avenue was kept going by Nolen over the final stages of the event to score an easy three length victory over Red Flair who battled on strongly. There was a further length back to Dorf Command in third position.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Moody: “She's had all sorts of problems this little girl. She takes a bit of work, but when she gets up and running she's takes a lot of catching.

“We just take it a run at a time with her and unfortunately she's had quite a few issues along the way which has curtailed her progress.

“She was a Group 1 mare and we had to take chips out of both fetlocks. She's had a few other injuries along the way.

“Gerry's happy to race her along for another year. We'll be realistic in our assessment of where we can place her.

These set weights and penalties races suit her very well and every now and then we'll step her out against the boys to get a bit of weight relief.

“She showed here last run she's able to mix it with them as well.

“She seems to have pulled up great. Both her and Anacheeva’s reports from home are good … they're both back in the stables now and everything seems okay there.

“We'll go poke up the hill and take stock and we might have a little celebration during the week, but the way I feel at the moment I won't take much rocking tonight.”

Jockey Luke Nolen: “It’s a culmination of a year’s long work. You've only got three days here at home of the Carnival so we take every opportunity. We win every race we can.

“I give the big screen a little glance, and I sort of waited. I thought I'd just open the throttle a little bit before going full bore … just had a little glance to make sure we were looking all right.

“Johnny Barbary rides her work. She's not the funniest horse to have much to do with.

“She's actually all right at the races when she's next to her pony … and when she jogs up in the morning next to her pony she's fine, but as soon as you get on her back she just gets on the ball.

“I only have to ride her when she's doing serious gallops which suits me fine … but he puts up with her the rest of the week, so a big thanks to him.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Avenue): 4.40 in to 3.80.
The winner was the favourite.

Horse to follow: Avenue continued the run of front runners with an all the way victory. Dorf Command made solid ground late to snatch third placing in front of Valentine Miss. She will continue to be competitive in mares sprint races.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After arriving on course Rhythm In Paris was examined by the Club’s veterinary surgeon and passed fit to run.

A short distance after the start Valentine Miss was inconvenienced between Dollops and Orbiting Belle which shifted out.

D Oliver (Rhythm In Paris) was of the opinion that the mare performs better on tracks with more give in the ground and races better when kept fresh.

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

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