FLEM NOV 04 - BIG GREY STEALS FIRST ON OAKS DAY

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, November 7, 2010

Flemington, November 4, 2010.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - Out 6m. Penetrometer: 5.02.
La Vie En Rose Vase 4+5YO Rating 0-89 - 1800m.
Time: 1-50.78 600m Sectional: 36.73. (Carrying 53kg).
1 The Big Steel; 2 Viking Hero; 3 Vesper.
Margins: 1.0L x 2.5L

Moorooduc based mentor Matt Laurie trained his first winner at Flemington when the imposing grey gelding The Big Steel took out the opening event on VRC Oaks day.

Lightly raced, The Big Steel has been the flagship horse of the young trainer since he notched Laurie’s first metropolitan victory at Caulfield back in July.

Going into the event second-up after a first-up third placing behind Coeur D’amour at Moe on Moe Cup day, The Big Steel was sent out an easing 14.00 elect much to the delight of his large band of owners.

Jockey Danny Nikolic was having his first ride for trainer Matt Laurie and the pair forged a formidable combination with the son of Urgent Request scoring by a comfortable length over Viking Hero with a further two and a half lengths astern to the favourite for the event Vesper.

The Big Steel has now had ten starts for four victories and two minor placing’s and the win takes the nuggetty gelding’s earnings to $148,592.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Matt Laurie: “I’m absolutely thrilled. He's a really progressive horse and he just keeps taking the next step, so we couldn't be happier.

“He's won on a wet surface before so we weren't too fussed about that and I was surprised to see how well he did it.

“We thought we'd head to a Moonee Valley race in a few weeks’ time over 2000 metres and then tip him out and think about the autumn.

“That's probably what's made it so special. A lot of these guys have been with us for a long time.

“He's not an expensive horse but he just keeps stepping up and he's done it again today.”

Jockey Danny Nikolic: “The tempo was quite solid the first 400 metres, but they slowed down a little bit between the 1000 metres and the half-mile … so I got my horse rolling a little bit. He did a good job!

“He's got a fair bit of scope about him. He's a lovely horse. He's got a good nature a good temperament.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (The Big Steel): 10.00 out to 14.00.
Favourite (Vesper): 2.30 out to 2.40 into 2.20. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After Hood became fractious in the barriers it was removed and inspected by the Club’s veterinary surgeon and passed fit to race.

Finishing Card was crowded on jumping away between Viallico (NZ) and Diago both of which shifted ground slightly.

Passing the 1200m Texan Warney which was over-racing had to be restrained off the heels of Finishing Card and at the same time got unbalanced after receiving a bump from Diago which shifted in before being straightened.

Viking Hero raced wide without cover throughout.

Near the 300m Skystreamer changed course and shifted in across the heels of Viallico (NZ) to obtain clear running.

Viking Hero lost its off-fore plate during the race.

A post race veterinary examination of Finishing Card revealed the gelding to be making an abnormal respiratory noise and connections advised they will have Finishing Card scoped upon return to the stable.

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