BACK TO BACK WINS FOR BATTLEFIELD

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Paul Messara trained Battlefield, a flashy Choisir chestnut, showed he was more than just a pretty face when he made it two wins from two starts this prep, coming home with a dashing turn of foot to secure victory in the QTIS Three-year-old Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The gelding stepped up to 1200m here after scoring a comfortable win over 1000m at The Sunshine Coast in his previous start. Battlefield has now won three out of five starts and has finished second on one occasion.

QTIS 3yo Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-09.11
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1m.
1 Battlefield; 2 Gundy Son; 3 Daddy’s Little Girl
Eagle Farm - Saturday, June 20.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Paul Massara: “That’s the way you want them to come back. He was just a lovely type at the sales. I think I paid $200 000 for him - and now he has grown into a nice horse. We plan to stay up here for another couple of runs. We’ll see how it goes. Freshen him up for the Spring. Give him a run down the straight or something like that.

“He gets all the attention this horse, because of his looks. Particularly from the girls ... he gets attention wherever he goes.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy: “Paul (Messara) said he’s got a good turn of foot and a good finish and he showed that today. They went a nice pace up front and he just cruised along early in the race. Then he came out and showed a good change of gears.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Battlefield): 7.00 steady.
Favourite (Feline Flyer): 5.00 in to 4.20 out to 4.40. Finished twelfth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Poor Judge (J. Taylor) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Battlefield (K.McEvoy) laid in when placed under pressure over the concluding stages. Gag Order (C. McIver) raced wide for the majority of the event.

Following the race, Feline Flyer was examined by the veterinary surgeon. He stated the filly was striding out noticeably short in front and was lame in its off-foreleg. He added that when flexed, the filly was displaying pain in its off-fore fetlock joint. Before Feline Flyer again races, a veterinary certificate of fitness will need to be produced.

The veterinary surgeon also examined Zakeza following the race. He advised he noticed the filly coughed several times. No further action was advised.