PRINCESS QUALO SCORES GRINDING DEBUT VICTORY

By Matthew Grimson | Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Sunshine Coast, Sunday, June 21.
QTIS 2yo Handicap - 1000m. Time: 1-00.64
Track - Cushion Track
1 Princess Qualo; 2 Duckin' Daisies; 3 Brujita

Jockey Larry Cassidy came for only one ride on the card and he went home with a winner after the Robert Heathcote trained Princess Qualo scored a grinding debut win.

Cassidy gave the filly the run of the race, tracking the leader Duckin’ Daisies in the early part. When Duckin’ Daisies kicked at the top of the straight it looked as if he would keep Princess Qualo at bay, but the latter stuck gamely to her task and she found enough to prevail in a pressurised finish to account for her more experienced competition.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “The owners flew up from Canberra, otherwise I probably would have scratched her. She also wouldn’t have run if there was a field of more than seven, but when it came down to five runners with a first prize of $13500 ... why do you think I’m here. I’m still not certain she was happy on the track. I have a high opinion of the horse, that’s why Larry (Cassidy) came up here for only the one ride today. You must remember this wasn’t a Maiden. This was two-year-old handicap. She was making her debut and she was taking on two-time winners. Brujita has won in town. So it was a pretty good effort.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: "She’s a very nice filly, and today was basically a barrier trail for money. I said to my manager I would just take the one ride today, and originally if it rained and the race got transferred to the cushion track she was going to be scratched. But the reason I took the ride was because I like her - I’ve ridden her in track work - and Rob (Heathcote) thinks she’s got potential."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Princess Qualo): 2.00 into 1.95.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
J. Taylor, rider of Mountain King, reported the horse resented racing in behind runners and raced untractably in the middle stages. He added that, in his opinion, the horse finished the race off well over the concluding stages.