DOOM NOV 20 - WHAT HAPPENEDHENRY?

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Doomben, November 20, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m. Penetrometer: 4.6.
Class 6 Handicap - 1110m.
Time: 1-04.21. Last 600m: 34.51. (Carrying 53kg).
1 What Happenedhenry; 2 Lone Assassin; 3 Lough Rea.
Margins: Short-neck; Short-neck.

If racing is a gamble, you can even add a little bit more of the ‘lucky-dip’ element when it comes to evaluating the Kelly Schweida trained gelding, What Happenedhenry.

In fact, given the ups and downs of the gelding’s racing cycle in his last four starts, the four-year-old seems quite aptly named.

The son of Fastnet Rock came good at Doomben on Saturday when prevailing in a pressurized finish to get the better of Lone Assassin and Lough Rea by a couple of short necks.

Both the result and the manner in which the win was achieved underlines the inherent race winning ability that What Happenedhenry possesses, just as his telling strike-rate of five wins from eleven starts highlights the potential for better things to come.

So why the added ‘lucky-dip’ element when punting a horse with such a promising record?

The fact is that in two of his last four runs (What Happenedhenry started favourite in three of those four starts) the gelding has failed to compete on terms with the field due to events at the start.

On June 6, the stall gate of Nikki Beach opened prematurely when that horse lunged at the gates. A fraction after that, the starter set the runners under way but jockey Chris Munce had already taken hold of Nikki Beach who crossed What Happenedhenry who was severely hampered.

In the ensuing scramble, according to the official Stewards Report, ‘A short distance after the start Felony Flight (J. Holder) shifted out forcing What Happenedhenry (L. Cassidy) outwards, making heavy contact with Nikki Beach (C. Munce), which was inclined to lay in. A short distance later What Happenedhenry again shifted out away from Felony Flight and made heavy contact with Nikki Beach.’

Both riders involved, Chris Munce and Larry Cassidy, made representation to Stewards that their mounts be declared ‘non-runners’ as both initially believed that a false start had been effected.

Stewards put a hold of correct weight. They interviewed the starter and took evidence from all other riders in the race before declaring, ‘Unless a false start has been signaled by the Starter or the official appointed for the purpose all riders shall ride their mounts so as to fulfill their obligations under AR.135(b), stewards found that despite Nikki Beach breaking its gate open momentarily prior to the starter effecting the start, the chances of any runner had not been materially affected and declared correct weight on the Judge's placings.

What Happenedhenry bounced back to win at his next start in Class 3 company on June 23, something he was clearly entitled to do as that result was his third win from his last four starts at that time … his only defeat over this period coming via the Nikki Beach hiccup.

Hiccup number two came in What Happenedhenry’s first-up run on October 30 when, as reported by the Stewards, ‘What Happenedhenry (L. Cassidy), which became fractious in the barriers, was removed from the gates, inspected by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to race.

‘Following the race, L. Cassidy explained that What Happenedhenry travelled well in the early stages, however failed to respond to his riding after passing the 700m and weakened badly from the 400m.

‘A post-race veterinary examination of What Happenedhenry revealed the gelding to have sustained minor abrasions to the near and off-forelegs and near-side eye.’

What Happenedhenry then duly bounced back again to claim a hard-fought win on Saturday much to the chagrin of those who felt the victory represented a reversal of form.

Did this latest win represent, on paper, a reversal of form compared to What Happenedhenry’s second last placed finish at his previous start? Yes it did.

Were their concrete reasons for What Happenedhenry’s two below par performances in his last four starts? Yes there were.

That is all there is to it.

On average, almost a third of the runners in races are compromised in some way by elements that occur in the running. What Happenedhenry has been unfortunate in that regard in fifty percent of his last four outings, making him a difficult horse to catch on the right day.

In the other two trouble-free runs What Happenedhenry has stamped himself as a horse with fair potential and, going forward, that is how his chances should be carefully weighed up by punters.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “That was a ride and a half.

“He had the thirteen alley. I was having a look at the statistics in the Sportsman … in the last three years only one horse has won from the thirteen alley.

“Our plan was to get in … just get in. There was speed in the race. If it worked out right he would have lobbed him in fourth, one off. If not … fifth or sixth. So everything went perfect.

“Last time (when finishing as a beaten favourite in second last place behind Captain Clayton over 1200m) he was involved in an incident at the barriers.

“Sometimes, you know, it can upset them. Everyone thought everything was ok and I think the stewards and the vet did the right thing, but sometimes you see it that they get upset and sort of out of whack … but it was a good effort today and a really good ride.

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “Last start we thought he would run very well. He went off in the gates and he sort of wasn’t the same horse, even for a couple of days after the race.

“So we didn’t really know where we were today with him. It was great to see him produce like that because that’s what we know he can do. I just like the way he really lifted.

“I drew very wide. I drew out in twelve and ended up three back the fence, so it was definitely the ride of the day.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (What Happenedhenry): 11.00 out to 13.00 in to 11.00.
Favourite (Wild Wilbur): 3.00 out to 3.10 in to 3.00. Finished tenth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer J. Wallace was fined $200 under LR. 67 for failing to declare E. Wilkinson as the rider of Dr Barnard by the prescribed time.

A post-race veterinary examination of Wild Wilbur (J. Byrne) revealed the gelding to be lame in the off-fore knee. Trainer M. Lakey was advised that he must provide a veterinary certificate of fitness for Wild Wilbur before its next race start.

A post-race veterinary examination of Hyde Park (S. Seamer) revealed the horse had sustained a laceration to the off-fore pastern.

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