CAUL OCT 16 - DESCARADO WINS CAULFIELD CUP FOR WATERHOUSE AND MUNCE

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, October 17, 2010

Caulfield, October 16, 2010.
Track - Heavy 9. Rail - Out 6m. Penetrometer 6.45.
Caulfield Cup (Group 1) Open Handicap - 2400m.
Time: 2-35.69. 600m Sectional: 38.90. (Carrying 52.5kg).
1 Descarado; 2 Harris Tweed; 3 Monaco Consul.
Margins: 1.0L x 1.3L.

Australasia’s first lady of the turf Gai Waterhouse claimed her first Caulfield Cup when Descarado claimed the champion Sydney based trainer’s 102nd Group 1 success.

Waterhouse and jockey Chris Munce wound back the clock to combine with the son of all conquering High Chaparral.

For Munce, it is a career defining victory after spending two years in exile after being incarcerated for his part in Hong Kong’s tips for bets scandal.

The victory took Munce into racings elite band of jockeys to win the ‘big four’ namely the Golden Slipper, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

Descarado, runner up in the AJC Derby behind Shoot Out earlier in the year was coming off an unplaced run behind Zipping in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington two weeks earlier.

On that occasion, the four year old gelding was trapped wide throughout from his wide barrier of fourteen. Entitled to tire after a torrid run, Descarado was beaten just under twelve lengths.

Descarado played second fiddle to the better credentialed stable mate Herculian Prince in the betting ring. The later started 9.00 after firming a point late in betting.

Favourite for the $2.5 million dollar affair was the 2009 Melbourne Cup hero Shocking.

Attempting to repeat the feat that Viewed had accomplished twelve months earlier, the Mark Kavanagh trained son of Street Cry was sent out a 4.60 firming favourite.

From the top of the Caulfield straight the field was dispatched as one and as they settled into their positions passing the winning post on the first occasion it was Red Ruler who matched motors with Herculian Prince at the head of proceedings.

Hong Kong visitor Mr Medici was third and his rider Gerald Mosse was attempting to slot in behind the leaders.

Five wide out of the straight was Descarado. After jumping away well from barrier fifteen, Chris Munce had pushed forward on the four year old in an attempt to slot in closer to the fence.

Luck had deserted Munce through the early stages of the event with the Waterhouse trained runner finally crossing to sit outside of stablemate and new leader outright Herculian Prince at the 1800 metres.

The cup field made its way up the hill at the back of the course and after being caught three wide just off the speed, Larry Cassidy sent his mount Triple Honour to the front.

This allowed Chris Munce to ease Descarado into the one out one back position, three lengths off the leader.

Munce popped the son of High Chaparral out three deep again down the side of the track and inside the 800 metre marker in anticipation of the backmarkers coming with their runs.

The large Caulfield Cup field wheeled for the judge and a line of five horses headed up in front.

Triple Honour held the fence from Herculian Prince, Descarado, Mr Medici and five wide was Monaco Consul for jockey Craig Williams.

Balancing up at the 300 metre mark, Descarado got the better of the two gallopers to his inside and surged to a length lead over Monaco Consul as Harris Tweed emerged out of the ruck.

Ridden by Brad Rawiller, Harris Tweed raced up to make a line of three at the furlong pole.

Responding to the hard riding of Munce, Descarado kicked and kicked strongly to fight off the challenge of Monaco Consul.

Harris Tweed could do no more as Descarado and Chris Munce packed too many punches in the run to the line to score a deserved victory by a length over Harris Tweed with a length and a quarter back to Monaco Consul in third placing.

Favourite Shocking turned in an excellent Melbourne Cup trial with a slashing fourth, working home from beyond midfield on the home turn.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gai Waterhouse: “Isn't it exciting. It's absolutely a dream come true!

“Firstly to have two runners in the Cup and two really live ones. I just said to my girlfriend who's in Descarado, ‘I don't know what cup you're going to win, but I'm telling you you're going to win a cup, because this horse is going too damn good!’

“He's improved so much, he was so relaxed and Nash (Rawiller) rode him on Saturday and I said to him ‘isn't that typical work’ and he said ‘no Gai, magical.’ I thought well that's good enough for me.

“I knew Chris (Munce) would be the right man.

“I asked Andrew Ramsden (part-owner) … I was going to put him in the Herbert Power and he said, ‘I don't know if I'd run him in the Herbert Power. I've won three Caulfield Cups I'd run him in the race we're in.’

“I said, well who am I to say? You've won three, I've won none!

“I gave him a list of jockeys and he said ‘I like Chris’ and I said ‘so do I.’ He knows how to ride my horses, on the speed … now it's all history!

“The owners said to me when they bought the horse, and they paid a bit of money, they said, ‘what's it by?’ I said ‘cup of tea out of saucer.’

“One bloke won the trifecta in the Melbourne Cup, and I said ‘don't put the money in your pocket, buy a share in Descarado.’

“All I know is my husband Rob rang me up one day and said ‘I've got a horse I want to buy.’ I got the price tag and I said ‘that's a bit expensive.’ He said ‘he's a very good horse’ and that was him.

“It's a dream. It's no use kidding yourself.

“Last year I sat at the Cup and I thought, bugger this, I'm going to have a few stayers around me. I'm sick of just being a bystander and Rob went out and bought four horses for me and two of them ran today.”

Jockey Chris Munce: “I am lost for words really!

“It's probably one of those races I thought I might struggle to win.

“I'd had a few goes, unfortunately not that many, but enough to say that I would have liked to have been a bit more prominent, but it's paid off today and I'm just so rapt.

“It's probably just one of those combinations that's clicked from day one and it always has.

“Obviously the way she trains her horses and the way I ride them … probably always will … it's just a proven system.

“He did a great job, the track might have played into his hands a bit today, but I’ve certainly got no worries with him at the two mile (3200m).

“He was 47 wide going out of the straight here the first time. He didn't get one off the fence until round the back at about the 1800 metres mark, so most horses would have put the white flag up probably at the 600 metre mark.

“To his credit he stuck it right out and that's why I've got no doubt he'll run the two miles.

“I’ve won the big four now, so everything else is a bonus!”

BEATEN JOCKEY FEEDBACK:
2nd - Brad Rawiller (Harris Tweed) “The Heavy track helped him today. It was a great run and full steam ahead for the big one (Melbourne Cup).”

3rd - Craig Williams (Monaco Consul) “He ran fantastic. It was a good trial for the Melbourne Cup. Mike Moroney has done a great job in turning his form around. Drawing the barrier he did helped him.”

4th - Michael Rodd (Shocking) “I'm very happy. He relaxed very well and he was still flopping around at the 1000 metres. Once he got into the clear he ran home as well as anything. I can't wait to get to Flemington.”

5th - Damien Oliver (Manighar) “He ran super and he'll be much better suited at Flemington.”

6th - Gerald Mosse – (Mr.Medici) “He ran very well. He was a little bit fired up and he will be improved, but he needs to relax to be a chance in the Melbourne Cup.”

7th - Ben Melham (Zavite) “Terrific run. He had nothing to cart him into the race and it was a good trial for the Melbourne Cup.”

8th - Hugh Bowman (Metal Bender) “Needs firmer going.”

9th - Glyn Schofield (Herculian Prince) “Travelled well until he came off the bit and then he couldn't go at all.”

10th - Larry Cassidy (Triple Honour) “I was in trouble from the 1000 metres.”

11th - Mark Zahra (Alcopop) “Just went backwards when I asked him for an effort.”

12th - Shinji Futjita (Tokai Trick) “He ran well without handling the conditions. He will improve a lot.”

13th - Nicholas Hall (Mourayan) “I know his former trainer said he could handle the wet, but he didn't handle the track. There's no doubt about that.”

14th - Mark Du Plessis (Red Ruler) “A nice effort, but he pulled too hard.”

15th - Jason Maskiell (Valdemoro) “Couldn't handle the going.”

16th - Steven King (Buccelatti) “Travelled well but didn't handle the going.”

17th - Glen Boss (Faint Perfume) “Obviously upset. I got smashed early and because she was wearing blinkers for the first time, when she got smashed I couldn't control her.”

18th - Luke Nolen (Dariana) – “Just spun her wheels on that track.”
PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Descarado):17.00 steady.
Favourite (Shocking): 5.00 into 4.60. Finished fourth.

Horse to follow: Descarado raced wide without cover through the first 600 metres of the event. Shocking turned in a wonderful Melbourne Cup trial by making excellent ground out wide on the track late in the race. Will figure come Melbourne Cup time.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1900m, Dariana got its head up and shifted in, making heavy contact with Manighar (Fr) which got unbalanced and brushed the running rail.

Dariana continued to over-race for some distance after this incident.

G Mosse, rider of Mr Medici (IRE), was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR.137(a), the careless riding being that turning out of the straight on the first occasion, he permitted his mount to shift in to a point where he left insufficient room for runners to his inside, namely Harris Tweed, which was taken in on to Faint Perfume, which had to be checked severely.

As a result, Mourayan (IRE) was also tightened for room. G Mosse had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight on 17 October and to expire at midnight on 27 October 2010, a total of 10 race meetings (1 metro/9 prov).

In arriving at penalty, Stewards took into account that Faint Perfume was already racing in restricted room after having made contact with Mourayan and shifted out towards Harris Tweed and accepted that this was a contributing factor leading up to the interference that occurred subsequently.

For this reason the Stewards were of the view that the carelessness qualified in the mid-range category.

Due to the interference suffered to Faint Perfume leaving the home straight on the first occasion, Zavite, which was following, had to be checked and shift out, forcing Buccellati (GB) wider on the track.

Also leaving the home straight on the first occasion, Dariana shifted in and away from Mourayan (IRE), tightening the running of Manighar (Fr) for some distance.

Whilst Stewards were satisfied that there were some circumstances, L Nolen, rider of Dariana, was reminded of his obligations to his fellow riders and to exercise more care in future.

Near the 1100m, Dariana commenced to over-race again, having to be restrained off the heels of Mourayan (IRE).

From the 600m, Manighar (Fr) and Shocking were unable to improve their positions when held up for clear running until passing the 400m.

Near the 500m, Shocking had to be eased to avoid the heels of Manighar (Fr).

M Rodd (Shocking) was issued with a severe reprimand for permitting his mount to shift out rounding the home turn when not clear of Mourayan (IRE), which was taken out into the rightful running of Tokai Trick (Jpn) which had to be eased.

Tokai Trick (Jpn) raced wide without cover.

C Williams (Monaco Consul (NZ)), reported on the scales that his mount appreciated racing outside of horses today.

A veterinary examination of Faint Perfume revealed no abnormalities.

M Zahra (Alcopop) stated that his mount started to hang early in the race and he then elected to settle at the rear. He added that it hung for the entire journey and did not feel comfortable in the heavy going.

A veterinary examination of Alcopop revealed no abnormalities.

A veterinary examination of Tokai Trick (Jpn) revealed a minor abrasion to the near-hind leg.
H Bowman (Metal Bender) reported that his mount floundered in the going when asked for an effort.

He added it was more the wet than the distance that contributed to the performance.

G Schofield (Herculian Prince) reported that he had a comfortable run in front, but his mount was under pressure from the 800m and failed to finish the race off.

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