CAUL OCT 09 - BERRINGAMA TOO GOOD BACK ON HIS FAVOURITE TRACK

By Taron Clarke | Monday, October 11, 2010

Caulfield, October 9, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.28.
Open Handicap 4YO+ - 1400m.
Time: 1-22.72. 600m Sectional:35.76. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Berringama; 2 Amaethon; 3 Tagus.
Margins: 0.4L x 0.8L.

Wodonga trained Berringama returned to his favourite track on Saturday to claim a victory in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres.

Trained by master country trainer Brian Cox, Berringama was much better suited back on top of the ground after his last start failure on a slow track at Flemington behind the talented Moudre back in August.

The victory took Berringama’s Caulfield record to six starts for two wins and three minor placing’s, with his only unplaced run coming in the Listed Monash Stakes run at Weight for Age conditions, where the son of Tobougg was beaten two and a half lengths behind star sprinter Reward for Effort.

Well away from barrier one, Berringama and jockey Nick Hall didn’t have sufficient speed to take up a prominent position and the pair settled midfield on the fence, eight lengths from the leader as the field shuffled for positions.

Former Queensland galloper Drenalin was the favourite for the event on the back of a last start victory at Caulfield two weeks earlier. Ridden by Glen Boss, Drenalin was sent to the front to take up the pace-making role.

But the pair would not have it all their own way with noted leader Jungle Ruler sitting up outside the favourite through the early and mid-stages of the affair.

Approaching the turn, Berringama closed up nicely along the fence and with the inform Nick Hall spotting a needle eye opening inside Sound of Nature swinging for home, the Cox trained galloper was quickly in the right spot at the right time as Hall brought the gelding into clear galloping room.

Tagus drove through inside of the leaders at the 250 metre mark to strike the front from Berringama out wide on the track. Amaethon was attempting to go with Berringama but could match his turn of foot.

Hall drove Berringama to the front inside the furlong over Tagus and Amaethon and a brilliant ride was rewarded as Berringama went on to score a strong victory.

Hall and Berringama had a long neck to spare on the line over Amaethon with three quarters of a length back to Patinack Farm galloper Tagus in third place.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Brian Cox Stable Representative Des McLeod: “It is a very pleasing win. It's his twenty-second start and he's either won or been placed in fifteen … so he deserves it.

“He only had about two weeks out in the paddock because … after the heavy track at Flemington he just never handled that at all.

“He's come back here today where he's raced well in the past as we all know and done it again today.

“Brian is at Albury Races … a non-TAB meeting. He had lot of work to do this morning so we left at quarter to six, so he'd done a day’s work by then.”

Jockey Nick Hall: “The speed was on and we had the cosy run in behind them.

“I suppose Coxy's (Brian Cox) done a really good job here. He didn't want to flatten him after that wet conditions run he had and now's he taken him back here … right track, right distance and right conditions today.

“We were pretty cosy and he should've been strong, but he put on weight pretty easy.

“I rode my first winner aboard Lakemba Gold for him and I’ve been riding for John and Helen the owners of this horse for about four years now, so it's good to give one back.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Berringama): 16.00 out to 19.00.
Favourite Drenalin 3.00 into 2.70. Finished tenth.

Horse to follow: Berringama scored via virtue of a beautiful Nick Hall ride. Favourite Drenalin was disappointing and didn’t get any peace in front. Drenalin can be forgiven for the run and will be better suited ridden with a sit rather than leading.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gold In Dubai raced wide without cover.

Passing the 400m Amaethon was held up for clear running for some distance and when endeavouring to shift out from behind Jungle Ruler, Amaethon made contact with Gold In Dubai on two occasions before eventually gaining clear running after passing the 300m.

A post-race veterinary examination of Delta Gee revealed the mare to have an irregular heart beat and trainer Mr M Grant was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness and the satisfactory results of an ECG are required prior to Delta Gee racing again.

G Boss (Drenalin) explained after the race that his mount became very fractious whilst parading behind the barriers and in his view was the reason for the disappointing performance of the gelding today.

A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be distressed and coughing and a swab sample was taken for analysis.

The track was upgraded from Dead 4 to Good 3 after this race at 12.50pm.

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