DOOM NOV 20 - FALCO STAR STAVES OFF A FLYING FUNTANTES

By Graham Potter | Monday, November 22, 2010

Keith Noud Handicap (Quality) - 1200m.
Time: 1-09.92. Last 600m: 34.37. (Carrying 53kg).
1 Falco Star; 2 Funtantes; 3 Ollie Vollie.
Margins: Head; Long-head.

Trainer Liam Birchley produced Falco Star primed to the minute and the six-year-old son of Falvelon duly obliged in the Keith Noud Quality Handicap, the feature race at Doomben on Saturday.

The gelding was returning to action in Queensland following a one-race raid to Flemington where he finished in a creditable fourth placing behind fellow Queenslander Temple Of Boom.

The trip certainly took nothing out of Falco Star and he showed to his best advantage, although it did come down to a nail-biter over the last twenty metres.

Jockey Hammersley had Falco Star smartly away at the jump. The duo were fourth early but went back to midfield mid-term, saving ground along the inside.

Falco Star held his position until the home turn where he straightened in sixth place, two wide, some four lengths off the long-time leader Rasmussen.

A marginal shift to the outside allowed Falco Star to line up a split between Sommersea Drive and The Sixties and the gelding had both the ability and the willingness to accept that opportunity.

Hammersley drove his mount through the gap and pushed Falco Star into the lead with less than 100m left to run.

The job wasn’t done yet though as a wall of runners kept the race finish pressure up to a high degree, none more so than Funtantes who, after being held up early in the straight, simply flew up from well off the pace to give the followers of Falco Star a right royal scare close over the final strides but, in the end, there was still a margin of a head in favour of Falco Star at the post.

Falco Star is now an eight-time winner from thirty-four starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “One of the owners got 100-1 this morning. They put up the wrong price. He’s pretty happy with himself.

“I gave him a reasonable hope. I would have been more confident at Eagle Farm. It’s just got a bit more room.

“He thrives on a good pace and having a bit of room.

“The run is Melbourne (when fourth behind Temple Of Boom at Flemington in his previous start) was good. He got a track that didn’t suit him, so it was extra good considering.

“He’s never performed really well on those conditions, so the run was full of merit.

“Yeah, I was hoping he was going to hang on. He’s not as his best when he gets in front too soon, but Paul (Hammersley) rode a terrific race. He put him there … hit the front at the right time.

“It’s just it’s hard to line it up when they swoop wide like that. It can be a bit of a problem. Luckily, he was a bit too strong.

“Paul did well. He can ride the limit and is going well. He is probably a little under-rated.

“Stathi (Katsidis) left a horrible hole here (in the riding ranks). Hopefully a few of these blokes will step up.”

Jockey Paul Hammersley: “He is a thinker. He is not always thinking about racing, but he is always thinking about something.

“After the last start when he just got beat by Temple Of Boom, you know, fitness-wise he was spot-on.

“As long as he travelled back from Melbourne good, he was always going to be coming into this race very strong.

“We had a lovely run. We were exactly where we wanted to be. Liam (Birchley) said to follow The Sixties.

“We got a lovely run through the race. In saying that, it was easy because he was travelling so well.

“He peeled out terrific. He just wanted to hang in that last little bit which made it a little bit more difficult.

“Halfway up the straight I had a little bit of a peek out the corner of my eye. I saw them coming but the post arrived before they did, so I was lucky.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Falco Star): 10.00 out to 15.00.
Favourite (The Sixties): 4.60 in to 3.30. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mr Slick (M. Hellyer) jumped away awkwardly, shifted out and bumped Blazing Hearts (C. McIver).

For some distance between the 1000m and the 900m Ghetto Blaster (B. Stewart) commenced to over-race and had to be checked to avoid the heels of Falco Star (P. Hammersley). Ghetto Blaster continued to race ungenerously and after passing the 700m again had to be checked to avoid the heels of Falco Star.

Blazing Hearts also over-raced in the early stages and after passing the 800m had to be checked to avoid the heels of Funtantes (J. Byrne).

Near the 900m Phelan Ready (M. Cahill) commenced to over-race and had to be checked off the heels of Femina Fashion (E. Wilkinson). Tour Guide (R. Wiggins), which was trailing, also had to be checked as a consequence.

Mr Slick, Ollie Vollie (S. Seamer), Sommersea Drive (O. Turpin) and Red Sphere (J. Holder) raced wide throughout.

In the early stages of the home straight Funtantes was held up and unable to obtain clear running.

Approaching the 200m Heart Of The Citi (M. Radecker) had to be eased to avoid the heels of Ghetto Blaster which shifted out to improve when not sufficiently clear. B. Stewart, the rider of Ghetto Blaster, was issued with a reprimand and advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground in future.

Over the concluding stages Phelan Ready was held up and unable to improve when placed awkwardly at the heels of Femina Fashion.

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