EF FEB 02 - HULL CITY TAKES NO PRISONERS

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 3, 2011

Eagle Farm, February 2, 2011.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 8m.
Class 3 Plate (Fillies & Mares - Set Weights) - 1200m.
1 Hull City; 2 Figasaurus; 3 Raise Up.
Time: 1-09.97 (carrying 54.5kg). Last 600m: 35.09.
Margins: 3.00; Long-neck.

It’s been a while between drinks for the connections of Hull City (her last win was on March 31, 2010), but when she finally put it all together under a storming ride from Skye Bogenhuber, the Hold That Tiger mare took no prisoners as she exploded out of her shell to show her true worth at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Trainer Tony Gollan and jockey Skye Bogenhuber had been denied a win forty minutes earlier when Falvelina was just touched off on the line but, Bogenhuber for one, was clearly in no mood to settle for second best.

The rider was as brave as she was determined as she angled Hull City towards a narrow gap shortly after the field turned for home and, when Hull City complemented the rider’s effort with a bold showing of her own, the five-year-old quickly put the result beyond doubt as she opened up a gap on her rivals and never relented as she powered to the line in commanding fashion to get herself back into the winners’ enclosure.

Hull City is now a four-time winner from seventeen starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Skye Bogenhuber: “I really wanted to win on Falvy (referring to her narrow defeat on Falvelina one race earlier). She tried really hard and did everything she could, so it's good to get one back.

“She (Hull City) actually jumped a bit slow. She normally jumps better, but when she jumped a bit slow and we went back, I thought I go straight to the fence.

“She needed a bit of luck from where we were. We had a bit of buffeting in front of us.

“At the top of the straight I found a little bit of an opening … a real narrow opening.

“She took it and she just accelerated. Then she just exploded away from them.”

That was Bogenhuber’s modest description of the ride of the day.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Hull City): 2.60 out to 3.10.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hull City (S. Bogenhuber) was slow to begin.

Raise Up (J. Byrne) over-raced in the early stages and after passing the 1000m had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Miss Mimmick (L. Rolls).

After passing the 800m, Figasaurus (R. Wiggins) raced in restricted room to the inside of Calamine (B. Looker).

Rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight, Figasaurus was held up and unable to obtain clear running.

Miss Mimmick and Raise Up raced wide throughout.

On return to scale, A. Spinks, rider of La Chance Finale, reported that he was not comfortable with mare's action.

A post race veterinary examination of La Chance Finale revealed the mare to be sore in the off-foreleg. Trainer T. Cotsiopoulos was advised that she would be required to provide a veterinary clearance for La Chance Finale prior to its next race start.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Dubai Prospect, rider J. Bowditch explained that the filly never travelled well at any stage and he was concerned with its action when he placed it under pressure upon straightening.

A post race veterinary examination of revealed the horse was lame in both front legs.

Trainer D. Kelly advised stewards that the filly would now be spelled. He was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required for Dubai Prospect prior to its next race start.

More articles