FLEM NOV 06 - WELL ROUNDED GRABS GROUP 2 VICTORY

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 8, 2010

Flemington, November 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer: 4.72.
Matriarch Stakes (Group 2) 4YO+ Mares SW+P - 2000m.
Time: 2-02.55. 600m Sectional: 35.41. (Carrying 53kg).
1 Well Rounded; 2 Purple; 3 Keep The Peace.
Margins: 1.8L x 0.2L

Lee Freedman became the trainer to win the most races in the history of the VRC Spring Carnival when lightly raced mare Well Rounded scored an upset victory in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes over 2000 metres.

The victory gave Freedman his 66th VRC Spring Carnival success after years of dominating Flemington at the highest level.

Well Rounded, a daughter of the dual Group 1 winning unbeaten sire Reset, was backing up after a second on Melbourne Cup day behind Influential Miss.

The win also capped off a career best day for jockey Ben Melham. Melham had earlier partnered superstar sprinter Black Caviar to Group 1 success and was a narrowly beaten third on Chasm in the other Group 1 feature on the card the Emirates Stakes.

Well Rounded has always shown staying potential and Freedman gave the mare her chance at Group 1 glory in last year’s Flemington Carnival when she ran a creditable fourth to Faint Perfume in the VRC Crown Oaks.

But since her run in the Oaks, Well Rounded has started six times in restricted grade for only one victory at Ballarat in September.

Despite her promising run on Tuesday, punters leaned towards the better credentialed mares in the event and the Freedman galloper was sent out a 41.00 chance in the event.

Favourite in the race was the dual Group 1 winning kiwi mare Keep The Peace for trainer Shaune Ritchie and jockey Michael Walker.

Well Rounded scored by a length and three quarters to Purple with a head back to the favourite Keep The Peace in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Lee Freedman: “It's a great race to win for the owners. The Esplins have been great clients of ours and we've always had great faith in this mare.

“She's had a lot of injury problems and that, but she hit her best today. I thought she'd back up great and she did.

“Deane Lester and I were talking about it before the first race and the horses that race well during the week that back up generally race really good here on the Saturday … so I was quite happy.

“She's a pretty good staying mare, probably better than what her form said. I'm just delighted for the Esplins to get the Group win for her.”

Jockey Ben Melham: “Lee (Freedman) helped me get to where I am today, along with Darren Weir, and it's a good race for me to be able to ride a winner for him on such a big day.

“I thought I better stamp that one. Pete (Moody) told me to be a bit cautious on Black Caviar. Obvious she's had a few hiccups in the past soundness-wise and he didn't want anything going wrong so I thought I better make the most of this one.

“She was never going to get beat from the word go.

“She travelled like the winner and I just sat on her. I wanted to come to the outside of the two leaders. That didn't eventuate, but we were fortunate enough to get up inside them and kick away and win well.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Well Rounded): 31.00 out to 41.00.
Favourite (Keep The Peace): 4.40 out to 4.80. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to the declaration of correct weight C Williams (Music Review GB), 4th placegetter, viewed the stewards' video before deciding not to lodge an objection.

Keep The Peace (NZ) was very slow to begin (2L).

At the start Marheta shifted in hampering Zantelagh which bumped Moment In Time.

Golden Charmer raced wide without cover.

Near the 1800 metres River Bypass got its head up when being eased to avoid the heels of Platinum Passion (G Boss) which was shifting in and easing at the same time. The incident was compounded by Picalero shifting out slightly.

In all of the circumstances no action was taken other than to issue G Boss with a severe reprimand and notify him to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

When the pace slackened near the 1600 metres a number of runners commenced to over-race. The main sufferers being Picalero, River Bypass, Delta Gee, Lady Avacan and Music Review (GB) which all got their heads up and had to be restrained.

After passing the 500 metres Moment In Time was unable to improve its position when held up for clear running until after passing the 200 metres.

Inside the 100 metres Music Review (GB) was taken in slightly by Zantelagh, as a result Music Review (GB) bumped the hindquarters of Purple, which then got off balance.

B Melham (Well Rounded) was fined $400 for a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post.

A subsequent veterinary examination of Delta Gee revealed the mare to be suffering a slower than normal recovery.

D Dunn (Ashlee’s Jewel) advised that, in his view, the mare raced like a horse which was at the end of its preparation.

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