FLEM NOV 06 - MOUDRE SCORES CONSOLATION WIN IN QUEENS CUP

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 8, 2010

Flemington, November 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer: 4.72.
Queens Cup (Group 3) Quality Handicap - 2600m.
Time: 2-45.22. 600m Sectional: 35.55. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Moudre; 2 Capecover; 3 Persian Star.
Margins: 0.8L x 0.1L

Moudre scored a consolation victory for his connections in the Group 3 Queens Cup at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.

The son of Blevic was one of ten horses that contested the Queens Cup that were balloted out of the final field for the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

The victory was sweetened for connections because the win attracted an extra $100,000 due to the balloting regulation. It also qualifies the horse for the running of next year’s Melbourne Cup.

Ridden by regular rider Craig Williams, the pair were on the seven day back up after failing in a last ditch effort to qualify for the Melbourne Cup in last Saturdays Group 3 Lexus Stakes over 2500 metres.

The victory gave the five-year-old his third win at Flemington from only four starts where he has shown a distinct liking to the wide open pastures that headquarters has to offer.

For Williams, the win provided him with his seventh victory of the four day carnival and also gave him the honour of being named the jockey of the carnival.

Clearly the move to separate himself from a major stable and become a freelance rider has been beneficial to his quest to ride top horses in all the major races.

The form out of the Geelong Cup continues to stack up with Americain, Macedonian and now Moudre all going on to win staying events over the carnival.

Moudre has endured a long and successful campaign since his first-up victory at Flemington in early August and will no doubt be a prominent player in twelve months’ time in the feature staying events.

The eight-year-old gelding Capecover continues to race with great zest and he finished three quarters of a length behind Moudre at the finish with a nose back to Persian Star in third place.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ciaron Maher: “He's been a bit unlucky and it's good to have him here and get the win today.

“I wasn't too worried about the Caulfield Cup but I thought here at Flemington … he really likes the track. It was a lit bit frustrating I couldn't get him into the Melbourne Cup, but there's always next year.

“The main thing was just to try and get his rating up a bit just so he can get into the better type of races next year. The money's a bonus too.

“I always had confidence in the horse. He has had a fairly long campaign, but he’s done really well and I really looked forward to today.

“He'll probably have a light autumn and target the spring again.

“The final day of the Flemington Carnival has been good to me over the years. Hopefully the luck can continue in the years to come.”

Jockey Craig Williams: “They were hoping that Moudre got into the Melbourne Cup, but they were still very good about it because they know that the horse has taken a big step in a short space of time.

“Ciaron Maher's done a great job with the horse. He's always not panicking and puts the horse best interests at heart.

“It's funny enough for a horse that has to win and race pretty hard every time he comes out, he actually improves. Ciaron's got the key to the horse.

“It wasn't to be this year but we've still got a great Melbourne Cup on again next year.

“They never went a fast gallop and testament to the horse how easy he is to ride for a jockey. He just relaxed and when I asked him to pick up he was good.

“He's not that good between horses, but when he got clear he was good and strong.

“I just think, for the leaps and steps that he's made this preparation, I'm looking forward to seeing him come back a little bit in the autumn, because when he's fresh he's got an unbelievable turn of foot and I'd love to be back here next year.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Moudre): 4.00 out to 4.80 into 3.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The Alderson stable notified stewards that it was their intention to have Sea Galleon ridden forward today. Sea Galleon was ridden accordingly.

Drunken Sailor and Capecover (NZ) were slow to begin.

Eastern Aria (UAE) raced wide without cover.

Capecover (NZ) was held up rounding the home turn and was unable to obtain a clear run in home straight until near the 300 metres.

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