FLEM NOV 06 - ARCTIC COMMAND RUNS HOT IN MARIBYRNONG PLATE

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 8, 2010

Flemington, November 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer: 4.72.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate (Group 3) 2YO SW - 1000m.
Time: 57.90. 600m Sectional: 33.53. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Arctic Command; 2 Aashiq; 3 Running Tall.
Margins: 0.3L x 0.4L

Two-year-old Artic Command did a good job to score up the Flemington straight in the 140th running of the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate after a brief encounter of the feathered type.

Just as the field of juveniles were sorting themselves out and settling into stride at the 800 metre mark a rogue seagull crossed the path of Arctic Command and the pair collided with the seagull striking the son of Freeze on the side of the head before being deflected straight into the lap of triple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss aboard Sanford.

Boss’ response was quick and effective and that was to flick the scavenger between his legs and get it on its way.

The seagull had little impact on Arctic Command’s performance as the chestnut came from third at the 400 metre pole to score a narrow but impressive victory in a driving seven horse finish.

Only a length and a quarter covered the first seven horses across the line as they stretched across the track.

Trained at Cranbourne by Wendy Kelly, Arctic Command was purchased at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $55,000 and was syndicated by Ken King.

Arctic Command is a half-brother to General Truce who won last year’s running of the Maribyrnong Plate.

Jockey Dale Smith was rewarded for his good work ethic by trainer Wendy Kelly and he retained the mount on the gelding after partnering the horse on debut at Moonee Valley on October 23.

Arctic Command scored by a neck over Aashiq with a long neck back to Running Tall in third place.

Wendy Kelly will now spell Artic Command with a view of a start in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes to be run at Caulfield over 1200 metres in February.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Wendy Kelly: “He's a lovely horse. We purchased him at the Inglis Sales.

"It was Lauriston Park that bred him .... Kevin and Tanith O'Brien, so I'd like to thank them. They've done a marvellous job breeding this horse.

“He's a lovely horse to train and Dale Smith's done a marvellous job.

“He's come and done his trackwork. He trialled him for us. He rode him at Moonee Valley. He had no luck there, and today was just good reward for everybody.

“I think the reason he only cost $55,000 was maybe because he was by Freeze, not necessarily through the mum, but I'm quite happy to have him.

“I went and had a look at him when they did the parade at Lauriston Park and he was just a relaxed, easy-going colt at that stage.

"He was a lovely strong horse and just looked like he'd be a two-year-old.

“He's nominated for the Blue Diamond. He'll go for a break now and that's where we'll head with him.

“He hasn't gone shin-sore. He's just been a lovely horse to train.

“Probably my previous best early two-year-old was Tangos Amigos.”

Jockey Dale Smith: “This horse was broken in by a cousin of mine and he actually rang me and said ‘this thing's going to Wendy's and it's a really nice horse', so I sort of had high hopes for him from the start.

“There was a little bit of early inside info on this horse. It's just a great team effort by everybody, Wendy, Kevin and the staff at home. Without the staff there is no racing.

“I saw the seagull coming towards me and I thought, ‘I don't know about this one' but I sort of clipped him and he didn't take too much notice of it … so it was a good thing.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Arctic Command): 12.00 out to 17.00.
Favourite (Eramor): 4.00 into 3.90. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On jumping away Spectrolite, The Counterfeiter and Glamour Planet (NZ) were all severely crowded for room and had to be checked when Gone Skiing shifted out at the start and Vatican shifted in abruptly.

Whitlam and Lieutenant were slow to begin.

Near the 900 metres, the eventual winner Arctic Command was struck by a seagull which then ricocheted into the lap of G Boss (Sanford NZ) for short distance.

After passing the 300 metres Spectrolite was having difficulty in obtaining a clear run initially between The Counterfeiter and Aashiq.

A short distance after approaching the 200 metres Spectrolite was again held up for some distance when disappointed for a run between Aashiq and Glamour Planet (NZ).

Spectrolite gained clear running near the 150 metres.

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