CAUL OCT 13 - SHADOWS IN THE SUN SHINES IN CAULFIELD GLOOM

By Taron Clarke | Friday, October 15, 2010

Caulfield, October 13, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.51.
Three Year Old Rating 0-82 Handicap - 1600m.
Time: 1-38.49. 600m Sectional: 35.34. (Carrying 58kg).
1 Shadows In The Sun; 2 Crawfish; 3 Absolutelyawesome.
Margins: 0.4L x 0.1L.

Talented gelding Shadows In The Sun returned to the winners stall in the opening event at Caulfield on Wednesday.

Trained by Anthony Cummings, Shadows in the Sun ran a respectable fourth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes over 1600 metres during the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Sydney based apprentice Brenton Avdulla was booked to ride the son of Dane Shadow, however a delay in flights due to low level fog meant he was unable to fulfil his engagement.

Former champion kiwi hoop Michael Walker was a more than capable replacement and got the job done with little fuss.

Brilliantly into stride, Shadows In The Sun was allowed to balance up third through the early stages of the affair in which the Mick Price trained Crawfish took up the running.

The race was run solidly through the first 600 metres with Crawfish racing out with a clear two length margin over Soliciting and Shadows In The Sun in third position.

Favourite for the race was the Peter Moody trained White Universe ridden by Luke Nolen.

Nolen settled the daughter of Bianconi down in fourth placing five lengths off the leader inside the 800 metre pole.

Crawfish lead out clearly as the field commenced the swing for home with Shadows In The Sun railing through to run into second.

The favourite, White Universe, was placed under immense pressure and was failing to response.

Michael Walker gave top weight Shadows In The Sun a couple of backhands with the whip rounding the turn in an effort to chase down the leader Crawfish who was still travelling strongly.

Crawfish balanced up two lengths in front over Shadows In The Sun and they were the only two possible winning chances beyond the 300 metre pole.

At the 250 metre mark Walker swapped the whip in an effort to stop his mount laying in.

Balancing Shadows In The Sun up, Walker sat down to punch the gelding out and the pair raced up to grab Crawfish at the 100 metres mark.

Making ground along the inside of runners was second started Absolutelyawesome.

Over the concluding stages Walker was able get enough out of Shadows In The Sun and despite changing stride right on the line he did enough to get over the line from early leader Crawfish and the impressive Absolutelyawesome back in third placing.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Anthony Cummings: “He has competed in Group 1 company and he brought that form here today.

“He's still got a lot to learn. He still does a lot wrong in his races, you saw that in the last furlong, but loads of talent. He’s a nice horse going places.

“I'll have a chat to Michael (Walker) about where we go next. He's got a few options going forward from here, either the mile, perhaps a mile-and-a-quarter or we could step him up to the mile-and-a-half for the Derby.

“There's a few options for him now and he's a horse of some ability.

“Craig Newitt rode him in Queensland and got off and said he'd stay all day, so the Derby is an option. He rode him in the Group 1 at Randwick and he said the same thing that day.

“He does hit the line very well and he's got that good attitude that he can switch off and do what you ask him.

“It's a bit unfortunate for the Brenton (Avdulla) because he's been doing a very good job for us in Sydney and he's got a good work ethic and he deserves his opportunities.

“It's a bit unfortunate for him today that he couldn't get here in time because of the fog (at the airport) this morning.

“Michael Walker has … once again a good work ethic. He’s a man with a bit of talent and thankfully we've got some fast horses to accomplish the right result.”

Jockey Michael Walker: “Good effort from the horse considering.

“First of all I was lucky to get on the horse, very fortunate in that respect.

“The horse never handled the track, it's definitely a lot worse than it's rated. After 300 metres I ripped my two sets of goggles. I ripped the first set off … it’s bordering on a heavy track.

“The horse wanted to overdo it a little and travel a bit hard. Anthony (Cummings) eluded to me that the horse … sometimes you think he's going to win and he doesn't … and he was a bit like that up the run.

“He was going to win and then he wasn't so, it was a good effort from the horse considering he was not happy at all in the straight.

“I've got to thank Anthony, all the owners of the horse and the all staff with Graham (Woolston, Melbourne foreman) because they do a tremendous job.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Shadow in the Sun): 5.00 out to 5.50.
Favourite (White Universe): 3.00 out to 4.20. Finished sixth.

Horse to follow: Absolutelyawesome did a good job at only his second racetrack outing. Bred on strong international staying lines he will surely improve as the distances increase.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Domesky was a late withdrawal on veterinary advice at 10.17am and trainer Mr M Kent will submit a veterinary certificate in respect of it.

Absolutelyawesome (NZ) was slow to begin.

Absolutelyawesome (NZ) was inclined to over-race in the early stages.

Muchos Respectos (NZ) raced wide without cover.

D Smith rider of Crawfish (NZ) accidentally dropped his off side rein near the 200m due to Crawfish (NZ) being inclined to hang out.

Jalsah was held up for clear running rounding the home turn.

When questioned regarding why he eased Muchos Respectos (NZ) at the entrance to the straight, J Winks stated that he had placed the colt under pressure prior to the 800m. Approaching the home turn the horse commenced to lose ground and was forced wider by Jalsah and weakened badly.

Muchos Respectos (NZ), was examined by the Club’s veterinary surgeon and this revealed no abnormalities.

L Nolen was questioned regarding the performance of White Universe and he stated that he placed the gelding under pressure passing the 600m and White Universe only responded fairly and he was of the opinion the gelding did not handle the track conditions.

A subsequent veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

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