CAUL OCT 16 - GINGA DUDE WINS DAVID JONES CUP FOR KIWI CONNECTION

By Taron Clarke | Monday, October 18, 2010

Caulfield, October 16, 2010.
Track - Heavy 10. Rail - Out 6m. Penetrometer 6.45.
David Jones Cup (Group 3) Open Handicap - 2000m.
Time: 2-06.68. 600m Sectional: 38.08. (Carrying 54.5kg).
1 Ginga Dude; 2 Purple; 3 Zoomin.
Margins: 2.0L x 1.5L.

Lightly raced seven-year-old Ginga Dude scored an emphatic victory in the 101st running of the Group 3 David Jones Cup over 2000 metres at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon.

Trained at Kapaki in New Zealand by Graeme Boyd, the son of stallion Istidaad was ridden to victory by an in-form Michael Walker.

Walker had ridden the gelding to victory previously in the Group 2 Avondale Cup over 2200 metres in December last year.

Ginga Dude was coming off a last start second placing behind the highly rated Wall Street in the Group 1 Spring Classic at Hastings over 2040 metres some thirteen days earlier.

Well in the market at 7.50, Ginga Dude and Walker were well away from barrier thirteen at the 2000 metre start. Ginga Dude was pushed forward by jockey Michael Walker to take up a prominent position.

Favourite for the event was the Peter Snowden trained Purple. With exceptional wet track credentials, the daughter of Commands was sent out a firming favourite for jockey Mark Zahra.

Four wide settling down, Walker allowed Ginga Dude a little more rein and the pair slipped across to cross down to the running rail and took up the running at the 1300 metre mark.

Purple settled down midfield, one off the fence, as the field negotiated the turn at the top of the track.

Walker was able to slow the field down to a crawl at the 1000 metre mark and this saw Danny Nikolic on Dream Pedlar, who was caught three deep, slip up and momentarily head off the leader.

Approaching the turn, the field of stayers really bunched up with only eight lengths covering them from top to tail. The favourite Purple was bailed up between runners in the second half of the field.

Walker let Ginga Dude stride on the turn for home and the little chestnut sprinted two lengths clear of the chasers, who were all off the bit.

Three lengths clear inside the 200 metres, Walker had a quick look at the infield screen and saw that he was well clear of Zoomin and Dream Pedlar.

Ginga Dude scored one for the kiwi’s as he went on to record a comfortable two length victory over the favourite Purple, who ran on into second placing, with a length and a half back to Zoomin in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Graeme Boyd: “We're very, very pleased.

“We weren't sure how he would travel. This is his first trip away. We came over hoping to get into the Caulfield Cup, but that wasn't to be.

“Special thanks to the Lamings, Bevan and Richard, they put us up out there.

“The horse has settled so well. It's going to be hard to leave the place. It's a marvellous training centre.

“I think the Mackinnon Stakes for his next start, if he gets a run.

“Wall Street got a break on us the other day and he made up about four and a half lengths … but just couldn't get to him.

“He's only had thirty-three starts ... we've looked after him.

“Michael (Walker) rode him so well today. He rode him well in New Zealand, when he won the Avondale Cup, so he was the logical choice.”

Jockey Michael Walker: “I was a little bit worried. I've won the Avondale Cup on the horse and I've never seen him that fired up. He was very fired up today … too fresh.

“I wanted to be third or fourth in the run. I was fortunate enough to get on the horse in New Zealand because the riders seemed to be getting back on him all the time.

“I seemed to be the only one who could get him out of the gates, so when he jumped out I was surprised I was in front, but to the horse's credit, he was fresh and I reckon he's going to improve with it. It was a good run.

“I only had the 54.5kg’s. Didn't have to do much work to get across and then I had an easy couple of furlongs. I could see this horse somewhere thereabouts and then I could save him up, because I thought he was a bit on the fresh side.

“I'm fortunate enough that I've got people supporting me, so thank you to everyone for that. I appreciate it.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Ginga Dude):8.00 into 7.50.
Favourite (Purple): 2.80 out to 3.60 into 3.50. Finished second.

Horse to follow: Purple got held up at the wrong time and motored late. Clearly on track to feature in some of the second grade staying events over the spring carnival.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Subsequent to the running of Race 7, Stewards upgraded the track category from Heavy 10 to Heavy 9 (at 3.32pm).

Becque Adoree (Fr) was slow to begin and then raced wide without cover.

Near the 1500m, Crocodile Canyon (NZ) was checked to avoid the heels of Purple (M Zahra), which initially shifted in and then was taken in further by Dream Pedlar (D Nikolic), which shifted in when not fully clear.

In assessing the incident, Stewards were of the view that the initial shift from Purple played too big a contributing factor prior to the shift of Dream Pedlar, therefore, in all the circumstances no direct action was taken against either rider other than to issue both M Zahra and D Nikolic with severe reprimands that will be recorded on their records.

Rounding the home turn near the 400m, Playwright, which was commencing to give ground, was tightened for room between Stanstill (Ire) and Becque Adoree (Fr) both of which shifted ground slightly.

Rounding the home turn and passing the 400m, Zoomin’ was held up for clear running until near the 300m.

A veterinary examination of Empire’s Choice (NZ), which performed poorly, revealed signs of soreness in the near-foreleg.

A stable representative for trainer Mr Bart Cummings was notified that prior to Empire’s Choice (NZ) racing again, a veterinary certificate must be produced.

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