RUSSETING CLAIMS GROUP 1 GLORY

By Graham Potter | Monday, June 22, 2009

What a purchase Russeting has proved to be - and in double-quick time! The four-year-old recently changed ownership and moved stables. She repaid that investment in full in a touch less than 83 seconds of action as she claimed the Group 1 Winter Stakes in scintillating fashion at Eagle Farm.

Produced at exactly the right time by jockey Michael Cahill, the Bart Cummings trained mare was full of running as she took the initiative early in the straight and had enough in hand to comfortably hold her advantage to the line.

While the Bart Cummings stable was putting another Group 1 notch on the barn door, some credit must be given to trainer Donald Baker, who had Russeting in his care prior to the recent sale of the mare, and jockey Ron Goltz, who helped guide the mare’s progress through an important stage of her career. Russeting provided Baker with his first Listed race success when she landed the Juanmo Quality back in the early stages of the Carnival on April 18. That win came on the back of a success at Dalby.

Speaking to HRO after the Juanmo, Baker said, “The other day at Dalby she beat nothing ... I don’t want to say nothing, she beat a fair few horses, but nothing like today. This was a big test. This is my first Listed race win. She is due to go to the sales in June. I’ll talk to the owner and see if he is still going to sell her ... to just see what he is going to do. I might be able to hold him off.”

Baker saddled Russeting for three further runs after the Juanmo, pushing her value up with two Listed third placed finishes in the Silk Stocking and the Glenlogan Park Stakes (behind Ortensia) and a fourth placing in the Group 3 Dane Ripper Stakes. Then came the June sale ... the change of ownership and the change of stable.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Qld Breeders' Winter Stakes (Fillies & Mares) - 1400m. Time: 1-22.64.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1m.
1 Russeting; 2 - Prima Nova; 3 Subtle Cove.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Reg Fleming (foreman for Bart Cummings stable): “The owners rang a few weeks ago and said we are buying a horse today. Would we train it. How much did they pay for it? Not much now. I think they paid $300 000 for it. Now not only have they got their money back but she’s a Group 1 winner. ” (The first prize here was $320 000).

“The first day we galloped her I rang Bart and said this is insane ... the gallop was unbelievable ... I thought my clock was wrong, you know. The bloke who was riding her is a good rider. He doesn’t let them do too much. He was sitting on it and I thought my clock was wrong. We galloped her again and she did the same thing again. She comes home and eats. She is a bomb-proof horse ... and she hasn’t looked back. She’s is a great asset for us.

“She drew a bad barrier at Ipswich the other day so we pulled her out there. It would have been suicide. It worked out good today. I’d say we’d give her a break now and head for the mare’s races in the Spring.”

Jockey Michael Cahill: “That’s my first feature winner since returning from Singapore and my first Group 1 since St Basil in the 2005 Stradbroke, so it is certainly good to be back. She worked with the runner-up (Prima Nova) during the week and there wasn’t much between them in their work. She raced very well the mare. She began well from a good barrier. She had the run of the race. I had a good run behind the leaders. I was able to get out at the right time. I saved her as long as I could and she really sprinted when I asked her to over the final 200m. It was a good effort.

“In the short time I’ve been watching her run, I don’t think she’s run a bad race this mare. She’s just taken the extra step today. I’ve enjoyed some success with the stable. I used to have first refusal of their horses here when Mr Cummings had a stable in Queensland. He and Reg Fleming, the foreman, have been long-time supporters of mine and often when I’ve gone interstate they’ve always provided me with a ride or two so it is satisfying to win a big race for them.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Russeting): 21.00 in to 17.00 out to 19.00.
Favourite (Forensics): 2.70 out to 2.80 in to 2.50. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1100m, Imananabaa(B. Pengelly), which was over-racing, was tightened for room between Dorf Command (J. Byrne) and Absolut Glam (D. Oliver), which was taken in by Chinchilla Rose (P. Wells). Due to the circumstances involved, the incident was deemed accidental. For some distance after, Imananabaa continued to race keenly.

Passing the 800m, Danehill Smile (S. King) got its head on the side when awkwardly placed close to the heels of Dorf Command (J. Byrne), which shifted in and away slightly from Absolut Glam (D. Oliver).

After leaving the 400m, Prima Nova (S. Scriven), which was closing the race off strongly, was obliged to shift in abruptly to find running and go forward.

J. Taylor, rider of Amberino, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that near the 200m he allowed his mount to shift outwards when insufficiently clear of Illuminates, and as a result of that, Illuminates was crowded on to Chinchilla Rose and lost ground to which it was entitled and was checked. J. Taylor was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 24 June and to expire at midnight, Friday, 10 July. In assessing penalty, considerable weight was placed on the guilty plea submitted by J. Taylor and the obvious contrition he displayed for causing an incident such as this.

The veterinary surgeon reported after the race that Illuminates had sustained an injury to the near hind leg as a result of being galloped on. He also added that the horse sustained a laceration to the off-fore pastern and was lame in the off-fore leg. Connections were advised that a veterinary clearance must be provided prior to the horse's next race start.

Jockey K. McEvoy, rider of Forensics, will be afforded an opportunity to explain his reasons for leaving the racecourse today without seeking permission.