FLEM OCT 30 - COULD IT BE MALUCKYDAY ON TUESDAY?

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 1, 2010

Flemington, October 30, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True. Penetrometer 4.58.
Lexus Stakes (Group 3) Open Quality - 2500m.
Time: 2-35.10. 600m Sectional: 35.80. (Carrying 53kg).
1 Maluckyday; 2 Linton; 3 Once Were Wild.
Margins: 1.8L x 0.2L.

Owner Nick Moraitis experienced the feeling of winning a Melbourne Cup back in 1997 when Might And Power led all the way for Jim Cassidy to score a memorable victory over Doriemus.

Maluckyday might just be able to provide Moraitis with that feeling all over again when he lines up as a live chance in Tuesday’s big race after a superior staying performance in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes.

The lightly raced son of super staying sire Zabeel will carry only 51kg in the race that stops a nation.

Maluckyday will be looking to emulate the feats of last year’s Lexus Stakes victor Shocking, by backing up three days later to win the world’s richest handicap.

Jockey Jim Cassidy will hand the reins over to Luke Nolen after ‘The Pumper’ had a firm commitment for Gai Waterhouse’s mare Once Were Wild in the big race.

Trained by the father and sons training partnership of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes the four-year-old gelding will start well supported in the market by punters around the country.

Maluckyday was having only his eighth career start and his first in the anticlockwise direction, but showed a distinct liking for the Victorian surrounds by posting a very impressive victory.

Cassidy likened the horse to his 1983 Melbourne Cup winning mount in super stayer Kiwi.

Maluckyday was taken back to the rear of the field out of the straight the first time some twelve lengths off the leading duo who were the Gai Waterhouse trained pair of Herculian Prince and Once Were Wild.

Down the side of the course by the river the leading pair ensured it would be a truly run affair as they cleared out by four lengths to the third horse Purple.

Maluckyday for Cassidy settled down last, twenty lengths off the leaders.

Waterhouse’s duo maintained their clear lead until rounding the home turn when Once Were Wild took over the running as Herculian Prince stopped as if shot.

Cassidy and Maluckyday cornered towards the rear of the field, ten lengths off the leader.

Inside the 300 metres mark Once Were Wild was giving a huge sight for supporters as she lead by four lengths for jockey Michael Walker.

Bounding down the outside of the field towards the crown of the track was Linton and Maluckyday and this pair, in particular Maluckyday, were making giant inroads into Waterhouse’s runner’s lead.

At the 100 metre mark Maluckyday seem to go into overdrive as he raced away from Linton and straight passed Once Were Wild to score a most impressive staying victory.

Very strong late in the piece Maluckyday scored by just under two lengths to Linton, with a short head back to the improved Once Were Wild in third.

The winner was later re-handicapped and penalised 1kg for the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Hawkes: “We'll have to have a think about running in the Cup. I'll speak to Nick and the boys (co-trainers, Wayne and Michael).

“He's just a lovely horse, but he's perhaps twelve months away.

“You never say never, but we'll just weigh things up, have a look at how he's pulled up, speak to everybody and we'll just make our mind up later in the day.

“He's a very promising young horse, but I still think he's twelve months away yet. A lot of things can happen in the meantime. We've just got weigh a few things.

“We've brought him along the easy way, but he's just a horse that's still learning and if you're winning the easier races sometimes you get more confidence.

“The horse comes first (regarding a decision on the Cup). That's how we've always been and we're always going to be … we'll make up our mind when we see how he pulls up.”

Trainer Wayne Hawkes: Yeah, he certainly did the job. He had to go back to second last from an ordinary barrier.

“Jimmy (Cassidy) was just trying to get out and get to the outside. When we got there … it was always going to happen … but just a matter of when, but when he got there he just wanted to lay in a little bit.

“He’s only had eight starts and was laying over the other horse halfway up the straight, but that’s only immaturity. It was his first start in Melbourne too.

“The other horse shot clear. One thing about this is that when you are in front you want the winning post to come but, when you were like us, you are happy that the winning post is a long way away.

“I don’t know about the Melbourne Cup yet. We walked up ten minutes ago and I said to dad, hopefully he wins easily then it makes it an easy decision. He’s only a baby this bloke, so there are no guarantees yet.

“The right thing to do for the horse is not to run him as far as looking after him for next year but, as Nick Moraitis told me, they are here today and gone tomorrow. We’re in a good spot.”

Jockey Jim Cassidy: “Always proud to wear the Nick Moraitis colours. He's been a great supporter. We've had a lot of fun and got more fun to come yet.

“I wouldn't recommend anything with regards to the Cup. He (John Hawkes) has been around long enough. He knows his horse. It's nothing to do with me.

“He's an outstanding stayer. I think he's the next Kiwi. He can stay. He is the best stayer I’ve been on since Kiwi.

“He pulled up well … wouldn't blow a match out, mate.

“He is a serious horse. What he is doing at the moment is a bonus. Great training performance by Hawksie and the family."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Maluckyday): 5.50 out to 6.50.
Favourite (Linton): 4.40 out to 4.60 into 3.80. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stanstill (IRE) was vetted after arriving on course in an agitated condition however was subsequently passed fit to race.

Stanstill (IRE) jumped away awkwardly and then knuckled.

Also at the start Red Ruler (NZ) shifted in and hampered Maluckyday (NZ).

Gothic Crown raced wide without cover.

Passing the 800m Stanstill (IRE) shifted out slightly to commence a run and in doing so inconvenienced Purple which in turn shifted out hampering Gothic Crown and Mourayan (IRE).

Moudre was held up rounding the home turn and gained clear running passing the 300m.

Inside the 200m Maluckyday (NZ) shifted in and brushed Linton.

M Zahra (Purple) was fined the sum of $300 under the provisions of AR137A(5)(a)(ii) for using his whip seven times in a forehand manner prior to the 100m.

B Shinn (Alcopop) stated that the gelding was very disappointing in his view and failed to respond to his riding in the straight.

M Zahra (Purple) explained that his mount would be better suited on softer tracks.

G Schofield (Herculian Prince (NZ)) reported at scale that his mount was inclined to hang out throughout.

A veterinary examination of Jessicabeel (NZ) after the race showed that the mare had a lower than normal heart rate, however no other abnormalities could be detected.

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