FLEM NOV 02 - MOODY ON THE MARK WITH MACEDONIAN

By Taron Clarke | Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Flemington, November 2, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - Out 3m. Penetrometer 4.83.
The Lavazza Long Black Open Rating 0-95 Handicap – 2800m.
Time: 2-57.77. 600m Sectional: 38.21. (Carrying 53.5kg).
1 Macedonian; 2 Irazu; 3 Muir.
Margins: 1.3L x 3.0L.

Macedonia franked the form out of the Geelong Cup when he streaked to an easy win in The Lavazza Long Black over 2800 metres at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

Beaten just a length and a quarter behind Americain in the Group 3 Geelong Cup two weeks earlier, Macedonian appreciated the drop in grade and the rise in distance to finish too strongly for his rivals after wearing down the game Irazu in the chase to the line.

Macedonian was a $360,000 purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale in 2007 and had been somewhat disappointing this campaign after a cracking first up run at Moonee Valley in July when a strong closing third behind Bonindi.

Caulfield trainer Peter Moody will press on with the son of Zabeel to the Sandown Cup in ten days’ time.

The win took Macedonians stakes earnings to over $154,000 from seventeen starts.

Macedonian scored by a length and a quarter for jockey Luke Nolen over Irazu with three lengths back to Muir in third.

Zauberin was a faller in the race. Her rider Blake Shinn was injured in the incident and he could take further part in the meeting.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Moody: “Only in Melbourne … raining when they jump and you need sunglasses when they finish.

It's been a long frustrating campaign. He failed to handle the soft in the Metropolitan. His run at Geelong in the Cup was very good. This is his grade and he got the job done nicely.

“We had him in all the Cups. It was dependant on how he came up, but he flew in below that.

“He's raced good and consistent. I thought he was a good thing pre the rain. He goes super on top of the ground. He's just a dour stayer.

“When the rain came I suggested to the owner that he wouldn't win, but I'm very happy to be wrong.

“He's very fit and he really sticks this horse. What he lacks in ability he makes up for in pure stoutness and courage, so I didn't fear too much that he'd be strong to the line.

“We try and put them in where they can win. Fortunately it worked today and he'll go to the two miles of the Sandown Cup on Saturday week.

Jockey Luke Nolen: “He won nicely enough. He didn't travel the first half. I had to put one behind his tail after we'd gone 50 metres just to get him onto the bridle and travelling.

“He travelled well throughout in stages, but the further the race went the better he got. He's simply just a stayer.

“You can aim at the top, you know, but there are plenty of places to drop off in-between.

“He’s a progressive stayer. Pete (Moody) picked his mark really well here … and there is a race coming up for him at Sandown.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Macedonian): 6.00 out to 7.00 into 6.00.
Favourite (I’m Imposing): 2.80 out to 3.00 into 2.90. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Miles Above was slow to begin.

In the home straight on the first occasion at approximately the 200m Ajhar (USA) was tightened for room between Muir (GB) and Balsaltico (IRE) which shifted in before being straightened.

Niptious which was following commenced to over-race when having to be restrained off the heels of Ajhar (USA).

D Nikolic (Niptious) was issued with a severe reprimand for permitting his mount to shift in near the 1600m making heavy contact with Ajhar (USA) and forcing that horse towards the inside running rail from a one off position.

Shortly after the incident Ajhar (USA) was able to re-establish its original position behind Basaltico (IRE) which then in turn put Niptious back in a three wide position.

An inquiry was opened in to the reason why Zauberin fell after passing the 700m dislodging B Shinn.

Evidence was taken from J Cassidy (Montahlia (NZ)) and H Bowman (Apprehend) and given that B Shinn was unable to give evidence the matter has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.

A post race veterinary examination of Zauberin revealed no abnormalities.

After the running of the race the Club’s veterinary surgeon reported that Niptious had sustained superficial wounds to the hind legs.

Post race veterinary examinations of Apprehend and Basaltico (IRE) both revealed no abnormalities.

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