FLEM OCT 30 - RICH PICKINGS FOR POOR JUDGE

By Taron Clarke | Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Flemington, October 30, 2010.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 4.58.
AAMI Business Insurance Stakes (Group 3) Open Handicap - 1400m.
Time: 1-25.73. 600m Sectional: 36.97. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Poor Judge; 2 Demerit; 3 Centennial Park.
Margins: 0.3L x 1.3L.

Toowoomba trainer Norm Hilton scored the biggest win of his career on the country’s biggest stage when the consistent Poor Judge scored a narrow win over Peter Snowden’s Demerit in the $250,000 Group 3 AAMI Business Insurance Stakes over 1400 metres.

Backing up after a disappointing performance a week earlier in the Group 2 Patinack Farm Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley, Poor Judge was sent out an outsider in the event despite firming a point late in betting.

Ridden by champion jockey Glen Boss the son of Royal Academy was again forced to start from a wide barrier.

The pair jumped away well and Boss was positive on the Toowoomba trained gelding from the get-go and looked for a prominent position on the back of the speed.

The early pace of the race was solid and Mcclintock showed out by a half-length over Prince Braeman on his outside and Boss was able to slot Poor Judge into the box seat third just off the speed, although three wide.

The grey gelding Jungle Ruler was caught wide and jockey Darren Gauci allowed the Lion Hunter entire some more leather and the pair slipped up three deep to join the leaders.

This in turn gave Poor Judge and jockey Glen Boss a three wide trail into the affair. To Boss’ immediate inside was the favourite for the event Demerit.

The Snowden galloper was looking to provide the trainer with a winner on the day after several well fancied commodities failed to deliver in earlier events.

Rounding the turn and into the straight the field fanned across the track with a line of nine horses all within two lengths of each other.

Rockpecker saved ground and railed through to strike the front at the 400 metre mark. Demerit chimed in under a grip. Poor Judge joined in and wider out on the track We’re Gonna Rock loomed large for jockey Michael Rodd.

At the furlong pole Poor Judge despite wandering around a little hit the front over the favourite Demerit, to his inside, and wide out was We’re Gonna Rock.

Poor Judge responded to the strong whip riding of jockey Glen Boss over the final stages to hold off Demerit by three quarters of a length with a length and a quarter back to the fast finishing Centennial Park, who motored home from the rear of the field to grab third.

The win took Poor Judges record to twenty seven starts for thirteen wins, six minor placing’s and close to $520,000 in stakes earnings.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Norm Hilton: “It’s the biggest thrill for me to win a race on Derby day. It’s just great.

“Nothing went right last week in Patinack Farm Crystal Mile. I just don’t know which excuse is the right excuse for him … there’s about four I can think of. It just wasn’t our day, but he pulled up so well we thought we had to have another go.

“Today is our day and we’re just happy to be here.

“It was hard to be confident after what happened last week, but we changed a few things and he was back to his old self.

“We’ll have a look at the Emirates Stakes. It’s a ballot-free race … but we'll see how he pulls up.

Jockey Glen Boss: “I've had a low day today. Things haven’t gone my way. I've ridden them well, but nothing's gone my way today at all.

“When Linton got beat early in the day I thought, this could be the start of a low day for me and it was.

“This horse has been in great form before his last start. Obviously his last start you put a pen through it. He missed the kick and got smashed early which virtually put him out of the race.

“He's handled the heavy 8. He's won on a slow 7 up in Queensland. He got through the going, he gave me a great ride through the race.

“When Kav's horse We're Gonna Rock loomed up I thought I'd beat him off because I knew he didn't really like the soft, so it was a good effort.

“You'd have to run him in the Emirates Stakes next week.

"He’s flying. He looks well. He seems like he's come through that run well. You'd be mad not to run him.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Poor Judge): 17.00 out to 18.00 into 17.00.
Favourite (Demerit): 4.20 out to 5.00 into 3.80. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start Woorim was bumped by Demerit which shifted out.

Jungle Ruler raced wide without cover.

Near the 100m Poor Judge shifted out under pressure taking Centennial Park (NZ) out onto We’re Gonna Rock. In the incident C Brown rider of Centennial Park (NZ) accidentally dropped his whip.

T Berry reported that Prince Braeman was disappointing particularly when the gelding has handled rain affected tracks previously.

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