FLEM OCT 30 - MR CHARD WINS CARBINE CLUB FOR LAWSON AND WILLIAMS

By Taron Clarke | Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Flemington, October 30, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 4.58.
Carbine Club Stakes (Group 3) 3YO Open SW+P - 1600m.
Time: 1-36.00. 600m Sectional: 34.33. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Mr Chard; 2 Goldstone; 3 Condelago.
Margins: 2.5L x 0.2L.

Two weeks ago Mr Chard became sire Al Samer’s first Black Type winner when he scored a comfortable victory in the Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield.

At Flemington on Saturday, in the opening event, Mr Chard scored an emphatic victory to become his sire’s first Group winner when he took out the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes.

Ridden by Craig Williams, the pair continued their winning association to take Mr Chard’s stake earnings to around $340,000. Not bad for an initial outlay of just $2,500 for his band of loyal owners.

Mr Chard lobbed in a lovely trailing position in fourth, one off the fence, four lengths off the early leader Ace Acosta.

Favourite for the event was the Peter Snowden trained Skilled. Partnered by stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy, the Group 1 winner sat in second placing outside of Condelago.

Ace Acosta ran the field along at a good tempo and the three-year-olds were spread out over ten lengths first to last.

Entering the lane for home, Skilled joined Ace Acosta in front and Williams brought Mr Chard three wide to come with his run.

At the rear of the field Bart Cummings’ galloper Goldstone was held up on the fence with nowhere to go for jockey Michael Rodd.

The field reached the 400 metre mark and Mr Chard moved up strongly and loomed ominously alongside Skilled and Ace Acosta.

Williams gave the Al Samer colt his head and he quickly let down and put three lengths on Skilled in the blink of an eye.

Condelago came off heels for Nash Rawiller to chase the leader, but the race was all over as Mr Chard careered away for an easy victory.

Mr Chard responded to the urgings of Williams and the duo scored an easy two and a half-length win over the partially unlucky Goldstone and a short-head back to Condelago in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Dean Lawson: “He was a cheap horse at the time. They can still end up being expensive if they can't win a race, but we've been very lucky to have him.

“We've said all along he's better on firm ground. Craig (Williams) rode him at Sandown first start on a heavy track and he said he absolutely hated it.

“He just won the other day at Caulfield because he never let his head go through the heavy going. We knew he had a better kick on him on top of the ground and he
showed it today.

“If he pulls up really well and he's bouncing out of his skin on Tuesday we'll look at the Sandown Guineas, but I'm keen to put him away and get him ready for the
autumn … have a run or two here then get him up to Sydney.”

Jockey Craig Williams: “We got into a lovely position. He just took a little bit more time to get into his rhythm today than in previous starts, but credit's got to go to Dean Lawson … and his owners of course, who are advised by Dean and his stable … because, you know, just the way he's taken this horse … the way he has placed the horse so well.

“This horse had a start in the Caulfield Guineas if they accepted to do that, but no he decided to just step a grade below.

"He won a race at Caulfield and he comes here and wins the Carbine Club and for that the horse is just improving in confidence.

“Credit's got to go to Dean and of course Mr Chard, who's such a lovely horse. For a jockey he gives you a great ride and when you press the button he seems to extend.

“You ask a bit more and he keeps finding so it's a great way to start Derby Day.

“The first time I jumped on him, you just had to love his work.

“I’ve always felt this horse was a B-grade horse compared to the A-graders, but since Dean has been placing him so well, his confidence has stepped up. He can be an A-grader now … no question!”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Mr Chard): 4.80 out to 5.50 into 5.00.
Favourite (Skilled): 2.00 out to 2.25. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Jalsah pulled hard in the early stages.

Approaching the 400m Condelago was held up for some distance and shifted out abruptly across the heels of a number of runners to gain clear running approaching the 200m.

Also near the 400m Jalsah had to be checked when disappointed for a full run between Get Out Of Town and Kookaburras.

Goldstone was unable to improve its position from rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight when having difficulty in obtaining clear running and had to be steadied off the heels of Ace Acosta in an effort to gain clear running approaching the 200m.

D Oliver rider of Kookaburras was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137a, the careless riding being that near the 300m he permitted his mount to shift out, whilst riding it along, when not clear of Jalsah resulting in Jalsah having to be checked.

D Oliver had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight November 2 and to expire at midnight November 9, a total of seven race meetings (2 city, 5 country).

In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the careless riding was in the low range category.

K McEvoy (Skilled) reported that his mount was inclined to hang out rounding the home turn.

C Brown reported that he was concerned with Ace Acosta‘s action throughout the race.

A post race veterinary examination of Ace Acosta revealed no abnormalities.

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