CAUL OCT 16 - ROTHERA SCORES A SPLIT HAIR DECISION FOR QUEENSLAND

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, October 17, 2010

Caulfield, October 16, 2010.
Track - Heavy 10. Rail - Out 6m. Penetrometer 6.45.
Betfair Stakes (Group 3) 4YO+ SW+P - 1400m.
Time: 1-25.86. 600m Sectional: 37.90. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Rothera; 2 Snipers Bullet; 3 Jungle Ruler.
Margins: 0.1L x 1.3L.

Oakey based teenage trainer Ben Currie scored the biggest victory of his short training career when Rothera scored a narrow victory over some highly fancied gallopers in the Group 3 Betfair Stakes over 1400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.

The lightly raced son of Tobougg took his record to ten wins from only twenty three starts and over $277,000 in stakes earnings with the win.

Currie has placed the five-year-old to perfection in his Brisbane starts to date and stepped his star galloper out against some formidable opposition in the Betfair Stakes.

Group 1 winners Sniper’s Bullet and All Silent were no match for the Queenslander.

Poorly weighted against the likes of the Group 1 winners, Rothera was only given a two kilogram allowance despite his biggest success coming in the Listed Members Handicap at Eagle Farm in April of this year.

Currie, at the tender age of nineteen, will continue to campaign Rothera over the spring carnival, with the next run likely to take place in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over 1600 metres on the final day of the Flemington Carnival.

Rothera was partnered by Brent Evans who made a triumphant return to Melbourne after recently returning to Queensland to complete his apprenticeship.

More than suited by the heavy racing surface, Rothera and Evans were sent out well in commission at 8.00.

The favourite for the event was the last start winner, Gathering. The Patinack Farm galloper was sent out the punters pick at 5.00 after firming a point late in betting.

Rothera and Evans jumped away well at barrier rise, but were content to settle midfield one off the fence as the leaders ran through the first furlong of the event.

Noted front runner Jungle Ruler had to be scrubbed along from his inside barrier to keep the front from Trader and Gathering.

The grey entire Jungle Ruler led the field down the side of the track and the open company sprinters were strung out over fourteen lengths.

As the runners approached the home turn, Evans allowed his mount to come three deep in anticipation of coming with his run.

Given a few backhands with the whip around the home turn, Rothera engaged in a brief bumping duel with Al Dhafra and these two gallopers balanced up five lengths off the pacemaker Jungle Ruler.

At the 200 metre pole, Jungle Ruler held a two length margin over the favourite Gathering and making good ground down the crown of the track was Rothera.

Rothera and Evans charged after Jungle Ruler and diving between the pair was top weight Snipers Bullet for Nash Rawiller.

Rothera hit the front at the clock tower but Snipers Bullet, as game as they come, rallied strongly on the inside.

Over the final 75 metres the pair went bound for bound in the gloomy conditions.

Stride for stride and punch for punch they went and as they hit the line no one acknowledged victory, nor did they concede defeat.

Rothera and Evans fell across the line to score the narrowest of nose victories over Snipers Bullet with a length and a quarter back to early leader Jungle Ruler in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ben Currie: “Unbelievable, pretty good win.

“When I saw him coming around the corner and attacking the line I thought he was a chance.

“We thought he'd got beaten on the line, but when we saw the photo it was a pretty good buzz.

“We planned to come to Sydney initially and he got a bit of a virus. He had a bit of a setback and we going to set him for the Epsom on the Captain Sonador path, but then we took our time with him and worked him though the virus and resumed him in Brisbane the other day and he won. Then we thought we'd bring him down.

“We'll probably go to the Emirates (Stakes), where he can get back to a handicap. He was pretty badly weighted today against Group 1 winners, so it's a pretty big effort to win.

“We've had him since he was a baby. We had his sister, so he's a pretty big Queensland horse.”

“My uncle's Michael Nolan. He was the trainer of Laurie's Lottery who won the Doomben 10,000. My dad trains, my uncle trains, my grand-dad trains. We've got about 12 in work.
Jockey Brent Evans: “We always knew it was going to be a pretty tough task to come down here today. The weather gave us our prayers.

“When they offered me the chance to come down and ride him after I won on him last start, I jumped at the offer pretty quick.

“It was a tough slog. It could have gone either way. I had him under pressure a fair way out.

“I didn't think he was going to be in the finish. Each time I ride him I usually come in pretty dirty (because the horse gets back) … probably pretty clean today.

“The soft ground brings the best out in him.

“He's only going to get better. He's only got better this prep and I think he's getting better with age.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Rothera): 7.50 out to 8.00.
Favourite (Gathering): 6.00 in to 5.00. Finished fifth.

Horse to follow: Snipers Bullet showed a return to form under his top weight. There may be a win in the grand old galloper over the spring carnival. Forgive the majority of the field one run as many didn’t handle the going.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
At the start, Trader shifted out and made heavy contact with Woorim.

McClintock raced wide without cover.

Near the 1100m, Demerit had to be steadied off the heels of Rothera and as a result, shifted in momentarily, tightening the running of Woorim.

D Dunn (All Silent) reported at the scales that his mount never handled today’s track conditions. A veterinary examination of All Silent revealed no abnormalities.

During the running of the race, McClintock cast its near-hind plate.

D Nikolic (Woorim) reported that the gelding never handled the heavy going. He added that his mount raced like it was looking for a longer trip.

More articles