FLEM OCT 30 - SACRED CHOICE SLAYS HER RIVALS

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 1, 2010

Flemington, October 30, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 4.58.
Myer Classic (Group 1) 3YO+ Fillies And Mares WFA - 1600m.
Time: 1-38.91. 600m Sectional: 36.98. (Carrying 57kg).
1 Sacred Choice; 2 Typhoon Tracy; 3 Hot Danish.
Margins: 4.5L x 5.5L.

Sydney based mentor Joe Pride added another Group 1 victory to his tally with much underrated mare Sacred Choice scoring a comfortable win in the $500,000 Myer Classic for mares over 1600 metres.

After only starting in the top grade once at her most previous start in the Epsom Handicap, Sacred Choice was not expected to trouble her better credentialed rivals and was sent out an easing $21.00 elect behind the hotpot and reigning Australian Horse of the Year, Typhoon Tracy.

Joe Pride came to Flemington resigned to the fact that his mare Sacred Choice was racing for the minor prizemoney.

Partnered by the star rider of last year’s Flemington Carnival Corey Brown, the daughter of Choisir churned through the soft going to score the easiest and biggest victory of her career.

The mares jumped away well and the early pace was keen as Culminate rolled to the front for Michael Walker. Top Sydney mare Hot Danish wanted to get up on the bridle early as she settled outside the leader.

Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy settled down in fourth position on the back of the speed for jockey Luke Nolen.

Sacred Choice was taken back to the rear of the field at the start by Corey Brown and the pair spotted the leader ten lengths start.

The select field of mares raced down the side of the track through the misty rain and favourite Typhoon Tracy was receiving a beautiful run in transit and punters who took the short odds were on good terms with themselves.

Swinging for home, jockey Corey Brown elected to bring his mount Sacred Choice out four wide around the field to close within five lengths of the lead which was now shared by Culminate and Hot Danish.

Balancing up in the early part of the straight, Typhoon Tracy was momentarily held up behind the leaders. Wide out on the track, with momentum, Sacred Choice cruised up under a grip from Brown and the pair hit the front inside the 400 metre mark.

Brown with the whip in the left hand drove the Joe Pride galloper to the wire to draw away from a paddling Typhoon Tracy to score an easy four and half-length victory over the favourite with a similar margin back to Hot Danish in third placing.

As for Typhoon Tracy, she will now head to the paddock winless in her four start spring campaign.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Joe Pride: “It doesn't get much better than this.

“I’m really happy with the mare's effort. We snuck her down here on Thursday night. We've got a special way we work her at home and I didn't want to upset her routine, so it's a very pleasing result.

“We work her down the polo fields at Warwick Farm. It's a fantastic training facility and we've got a few options where the horses don't have to go around in circles around a rail and it just suits this mare.

“She doesn't tie-up that way. She's relaxed and Anna, who's strapping her here today, rides her all the time and she has done a fantastic job with her and its great result for the team.

“She was very impressive today. We knew the rain was going to play into our hands. I was sort of worried about it being a real sort of gut-busting chase home, but the pace was only slow and she just totally out-sprinted them, so it was really good.

“She's only had the blinkers on three times in her life and she's won a Group 2, placed in a Group 1 and a won a Group 1, so they're something we keep up our sleeve. They're a good piece of equipment for her.

“Her Sydney form was strong, but also this mare has just been racing with great heart. I was scared of the opposition. On top of the ground … with no disrespect to my mare … I don’t think she could have beaten Typhoon Tracy, but once this rain came it really put us in the picture.

“I didn’t think she was a Group 1 horse at all. I'd be lying if I said I thought she was.

“She really has over achieved this mare. She's a real trier and she deserved to win a big race but to get one like this, one of the biggest mares' races in Australia, is just a fantastic result.

“I’ll definitely give her a break now. That was always the plan. Something similar to what happened at the end of her last preparation where we gave her a month going into the Emancipation. She won that.

“It’s a bit of a tactic with this mare. Give her a month into a mile run and she goes really well.

“This is the greatest day's racing, no one can deny that and you look forward to it every year, normally just to have a bet. To be down here and have a winner, it’s fantastic.”

Jockey Corey Brown: “Full credit to Joe Pride and his staff. I've got a good strike rate for him and to come down and win a Group 1 for him is a big thrill.

“I was happy with where I was at the tail of the field. I was three wide but she travelled really sweet.

“I had a bit of a trail under the 600 and then I got out around them. I just wanted to get out to the middle of the track.

“The track's deteriorated a fair bit so I was happy to be out there. I thought I may have been getting there a little bit too soon, but full credit to Joey and the staff. Like I said, she kicked away and she held them strong.

“She is a bit of a swimmer. She’s done a good job.”

“The track is getting very deep, especially the way the rain's coming down. As quick as we go into it it's filling up with water.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sacred Choice): 17.00 out to 21.00.
Favourite (Typhoon Tracy): 1.95 out to 2.00 into 1.90. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Allez Wonder was a late withdrawal at 2.42pm and Lovemelikearock was withdrawn at 3.11pm due to the downgrade of the track.

A post race veterinary examination of Hot Danish revealed the mare had a quartered off-hind heel and had also cast its off-hind plate.

A post race veterinary examination of Marquardt (NZ) revealed the mare to be sore across the hindquarters and trainer Mr J Thompson was advised a veterinary clearance is required prior to Marquardt (NZ) racing again.

G Boss reported that Yosei did not handle the track conditions today and failed to finish off the race.

D Dunn reported that Palacio De Cristal failed to handle the track conditions today.

More articles