EF FEB 02 - CROISADE CRUISES IN

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 3, 2011

Eagle Farm, February 2, 2011.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 8m.
Maiden Plate (3yo - Set Weights) - 1500m.
1 Croisade; 2 Aside; 3 Tuscanarrow.
Time: 1-30.70. (Carrying 56kg). Last 600m: 36.30.
Margins: 2.25; Half-head.

Croisade scored his first career success in his seventh start. This was his fifth run in his second preparation which kicked off with a new trainer (Steven O’dea) back on December 8, 2010. The three-year-old son of Lion Heart was previously trained by Brian Gentle, who retains a part-ownership share in the horse.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steven O’dea: “He’s sort of been around the mark his last few runs. He was a little bit disappointing, especially last start. He got a nice run in the race and let down good but then sort of only whacked away the last bit.

“But having had that run over a mile and then back to 1500m today and on a bigger track (Croisade’s previous two runs were at Doomben) … it probably suited him today, you know.

“Ryan (Wiggins) rode him well. He took advantage when they were only going steady at the back. He was going to be caught wide, so he has gone forward. The horse was able to dictate in front and he’s given a really good kick”

Jockey Ryan Wiggins: “There was no pace today. Like we’ve been riding him a little bit forward, but he settled a bit today.

“It was good to have the 1500m start because he didn’t have to rush coming across them. (Croisade was drawn eight out of eleven runners).

“Once he got into a bit of gear I let him cross them on his own accord. He always travelled well.

“Look, his work on Tuesday was outstanding. For a horse who hadn’t won a race, I just said, he’ll just be winning, you know what I mean … if he gets to the front. I think he is the sort of horse that needs to be in front.

“He put a gap on them today and he might have a bit of depth to him, you know.”

Part owner and former trainer Brian Gentle (who travelled from Sydney to watch his horse run): “It was good to have a win here today. It’s only a Maiden win, but when I had handed this horse over the Steven (O’dea) I said, this horse goes pretty good.

“I galloped him one day with Umanugget and he blew Umanugget away on the course proper at the Gold Coast.

“His two runs with me … look, he was shin-sore. He had three trials with me and was shin-sore each one, so he’s only going to keep improving.

“Yeah, Steven’s got Umanugget as well now. He’s got all of my old horses. Yeah, I recommended Steven to my owners.

“One of his other runners today … Hawky in race four … that was my last runner as a trainer.

“My last runner was the last day of the season last year. Hawky finished second.

“This is my first time back. I’ve been based in Sydney about three or four months now.

“Do I miss the training side. Yes and no. You miss the training side, but you don’t miss chasing the money … the challenge of chasing the money off some owners. You don’t miss that.

“That was the only reason I gave up training. It was pretty much financial”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Croisade): 4.80 out to 5.00.
Favourite (Annia Minor): 2.80 out to 3.10. Finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On arrival at the barriers, at the request of the rider, Picaceleb was examined by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to start.

Snipofftheoldblock (B. Wallace) and Croisade (R. Wiggins) were both hampered at the start by Tuscanarrow (C. Munce), which jumped away awkwardly and shifted out.

Waltz With You (C. Whiteley) blundered at the start.

Rounding the home turn, Texas Flag (M. Wood), when hanging out, shifted out and brushed She Kicks (J. Wood), forcing that runner wider on the track.

Picaceleb (A. Spinks) raced three wide throughout.

On return to scale, M. Wood reported that Texas Flag hung out for a major part of the race.

A post race veterinary examination of Texas Flag revealed the gelding was lame in the near-foreleg. Trainer C. Dawson was advised that he would be required to provide a veterinary clearance for the gelding prior to its next race start.

B. El-Issa, rider of Aside, pleaded guilty to a charge under AR137A(5)(a)(ii), in that he used his whip more than 5 occasions prior to the 100m in a forehand manner.

B. El-Issa was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by four race meetings, to commence at midnight, 5 February and to expire at midnight, 11 February 2011. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account poor record regarding this rule.

Stewards sought an explanation from D. Griffin regarding the disappointing performance of Annia Minor.

D. Griffin explained that he had to ride the filly aggressively to get it to travel in the early stages and from a point just prior to rounding the home turn he placed Annia Minor under pressure however it failed to respond to his riding and was disappointing in the home straight.

A post race veterinary examination of Annia Minor failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Trainer B. Guy advised that Annia Minor would now be sent for a spell.

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