FLEM NOV 02 - LAUNAY CHALKS UP A DOUBLE FOR SNOWDEN AND MCEVOY

By Taron Clarke | Thursday, November 4, 2010

Flemington, November 2, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - Out 3m. Penetrometer: 4.83.
TAB Celebrating 50 Years 4+5YO Rating 0-89 Handicap - 1400m.
Time: 1-25.50. 600m Sectional: 37.17. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Launay; 2 Amaethon; 3 Testapal.
Margins: 0.3L x 0.5L.

The Darley Team made it a winning double in the last event on the card when the highly regarded Launay scored a gritty win for stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

Launay, a son of Lonhro, went into the event on the back of a pleasing first up run behind inform Gold Coast sprinter Faster Son.

After disappointing trainer Peter Snowden with his performances over the Brisbane Winter Carnival, Launay was sent out the favourite in a wide open betting market at 4.80.

Over the concluding stages of the affair jockey Kerrin McEvoy had to call upon all his grit and determination to hold off Amaethon by a neck with a half-length back to Testapal in third placing.

The victory brought up win number four from ten starts for the gelding who has now earned over $200,000 in stake earnings.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Snowden: “It's a carnival we wanted to do well at.

“We knew he (Sheik Mohammed) was coming over. We really wanted to do well here and it was a fitting day.

"It was so good to see Palomares win. He only just got here before the race, so for me it was worth almost a Melbourne Cup.

“He's much better this way. We took him to Brisbane. He was probably a tad disappointing there, but I think he's more natural here … he's a different horse.

“I know he only just won today, but there's more improvement in the horse and I think maybe a race like that Sandown Classic race might be a good race for him.

“He won them early (Launay won all three starts of his second preparation). He didn't beat a lot. Quite often you get carried away with them, but I was disappointed when he went to Sydney and I was a bit disappointed with his Brisbane efforts.

“He's better going in this direction. He's a more complete horse this way.

“We've got couple of chances for the rest of the week, but not a lot of runners now.

“We went big early and come up empty on Saturday. The horses ran well but the rain sort of brought us back to par.

“We've got a couple of chances Thursday and a couple Saturday, but it's been great a day today and the right day to have a good day.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy: “It's been good. We've had a couple of wins and we're all happy with that.

“He seems like he's come on leaps and bounds physically and mentally again this time through.

“Today he got a little bit of a bump from the inside. I was just worried coming to the bend that he might have overdone it. Luckily he battled on really well and showed some good fight.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Launay): 5.00 out to 5.50 into 4.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gold In Dubai was a late withdrawal at 12.46pm due to the downgrade of the track Red Hustler was slow to begin (two lengths).

Near the 1200m Overtake had to be eased to avoid the heels of Amaethon which shifted out slightly.

Change Upacog lost its off-hind plate during the race.

An inquiry as to why M Rodd could not fulfil his engagement on Shadowfax was adjourned until Thursday November 4.

An inquiry was adjourned into N Rawiller’s (Overtake) use of the whip until Thursday November 4.

An inquiry was adjourned into G Boss’s (Testapal) use of the whip until Thursday November 4.

C Williams (Voile Rouge (NZ)) explained that his mount was obliged to race wide without cover and for that reason his mount raced too keenly.

P Mertens rider of Balavan reported that his mount hung out for the majority of the event and felt uncomfortable in its action. A subsequent veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.

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