SHELLSCRAPE TOO STRONG IN AUSTRALIA POST STAKES

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Chris Waller trained Shellscrape outgunned the better fancied Carrara in a simple two-horse shootout to the line in the Australia Post Bicentennial Stakes, the two-year-old feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Shellscrape had served notice of his claim to this Listed success when trouncing the useful Temple Of Boom by four lengths in his previous start at Doomben. That was over 1200m and the extra ground here and the wide draw did pose a test. Jockey Larry Cassidy rated the colt to perfection and, when he kicked on over the last 200m, the chasing Carrara, who had been perfectly poised to strike if good enough, was suddenly under pressure and unable to reel in the leader.

This was the consistent Shellscrape’s third win from nine starts. He also has five minor placings to his credit.

Australia Post Bicentennial Stakes (Listed - 2yo’s- Set Weights) - 1400m. Time: 1-22.79.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1m.
1 Shellscrape; 2 Carrara; 3 Man Of Oar.

Trainer Chris Waller: “The good ride from Larry Cassidy was a big help. We’ll have to take him back to Sydney. Larry was a big part in getting me going in Sydney. He rode quite a few winners for me when he was winning the Premiership there. I think he went over to Singapore and Darren Beadman came back so I’ve been fortunate to have good Premiership winning jockeys riding for me, but Larry was definitely a big part of me getting set up in Sydney. So it’s great to see him doing so well now.

“The horse did post the warning last time. He did it hard to cross them that day and lead at a strong pace on a leader’s bias track. But he still showed the courage to sprint away at the top of the straight. He did the same again today. There were some nice horses in the race. Maybe we have underestimated him a little bit.

“The owners bred Shellscrape. They are part-owners of Dane Shadow and I think Dane Shadow is a pretty promising stallion. This horse has had nine runs now and has shown he is very tough.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “He jumped very well from a wide gate. My plan was not to sort of burn him across but just to let him use his own speed. Even though I didn’t press him hard to get there ... I just let him get there under his own steam ... I was still a bit concerned because they keep kicking up. I just nursed him coming into the straight because I was worried about the seven furlongs. I didn’t hang on to him. I just let him slide but without asking him to do anything ... just careful not to take any speed off him. I was a bit worried. In the straight I sort of had a peep over my shoulder and saw Nash (Rawiller - on Carrara) coming at me, I thought he had me cold. But my bloke, yeah, he found plenty, so it was a good effort.

“He handled the step up to 1400m well in the end. I’m sure a track with the jar out of it ... a slow track ... is going to suit him even better.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Shellscrape): 4.00 out to 5.50 in to 5.00.
Favourite (Carrara): 2.40 out to 2.70 in to 2.60. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After riders had mounted, it was noted that N. Rawiller, rider of Carrara, was wearing silks on which the name T. Angland was imprinted. Subsequent to the race, N. Rawiller stated that some of his gear was delayed at the airport and he had borrowed gear from jockey Angland. Whilst stewards took no action, N. Rawiller was advised that in similar circumstances it was in everybody's interests if he sought permission from stewards in regard to such matters.

P. Robl, rider of Web Of Love, stated that for some time now he had been wearing a light pair of silks without his name stamped on them. No action was taken today, however he was advised that this was a practice that would not be tolerated in future.