EF FEB 02 - VAARWEL BOUNCES BACK

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 3, 2011

Eagle Farm, February 2, 2011.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 8m.
Maiden Plate (C, G & E - Set Weights) - 1300m.
1 Vaarwel; 2 Skilful Rain; 3 Andre's Choice.
Time: 1-17.34 (carrying 56kg). Last 600m: 35.16.
Margins: 3.25; Nose.

The John Thompson trained Vaarwel bounced back to form to claim his first victory in his fifth start. It was a performance far removed from the one he produced when finishing a distant last in his previous start, and the underlying message in the tale of the two runs is just how much effect some gear changes can have on a horses ability to focus on the task at hand.

Trainers have to experiment to find the best mix of gear for their runner. As long as they learn as they go along, he results of all experiments are worthwhile.

The nose-roll went on last time. Vaarwel didn’t like it and he didn’t perform. The nose-roll came off this time and Vaarwel was a racehorse again and he showed just how much he enjoyed that change of equipment by racing away to record the biggest winning margin on the day.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Toby Edmonds (Assistant trainer to John Thompson): “I think I stuffed up last time. I put a nose-roll on him. (It was off today).

“Yeah, he was going really good going into that Maiden (at the Magic Millions). We gave him a good chance.

“He didn’t like the nose-roll. He didn’t like it. He didn’t know where he was, He didn’t travel at all which was very unusual. (Vaarwel actually finished last in that sixteen horse field, 14.40 lengths behind the winner Stradford).

“We pulled that nose-roll back off and away he went today.

“It’s only our first preparation with him up here, so we are still learning. It’s good to see him win.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “The further he goes into this preparation, I think the better he’ll be.

“He doesn’t know exactly what he is there for. He is a little bit green.

“Yeah, they had the nose-roll on him the other day. He kinda floated a lot … he got his head … it was one of those things. Sometimes it works for them and sometimes it doesn’t.

“It just never really worked for him the other day.

“Today, it was one of those races where it was only a moderate tempo. I thought, if something did race forward to lead it wouldn’t be a quick tempo, so I may as well put myself there. He relaxed very well and was too good when it counted.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Vaarwel): 3.80 in to 2.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
B. Evans, rider of Silabella (Race 3) and Happy Hooligan (Race 4) was fined $200 for failing to claim his full allowances of both horses.

Andre's Choice (J. Bowditch) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.

Approaching the 1000m, Bubka (A. Spinks), when over-racing, had to be restrained off the heels of Shinko's Revenge (D. Griffin). Valera (C. Whiteley), which was trailing, also had to be steadied as a consequence.

Hawky (R. Wiggins) and Andre's Choice raced ungenerously in the early stages.

Near the 900m, Bubka was momentarily tightened for room by Mitayden (M. Wood), which shifted in slightly.

Skilful Rain (C. Munce) raced three wide in the early stages before being ridden forward to obtain the lead near the 800m.

Approaching the 600m, Bubka, which continued to over-race, had to be checked to avoid the heels of Shinko's Revenge. Shortly after, Shinko's Revenge , was inconvenienced when tightened for room between Piccolo Dynasty (D. Browne) and All Fear (M. Palmer), which shifted out around the heels of Vaarwel (J. Byrne) to improve.

Nearing the 300m, M. Morris, rider of Cangrande, dropped his whip.

Mitayden and Rytarga (B. Wallace) race raced three wide throughout.

Happy Hooligan lost its off-hind plate in running and Andre's Choice lost its near-fore plate in running.

A post race veterinary examination of Rytarga, which tired badly in the home straight, revealed the filly to be suffering from respiratory distress. Stable representative for trainer J. Green was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness, together with the results of an ECG, would be would be required prior to the filly racing again.

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