EF FEB 26 - ESSINGTON SNARES BOLD GLANCE

By Graham Potter | Monday, February 28, 2011

Eagle Farm, February 26, 2011.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2.5m.
Quality Handicap - Listed - 1200m.
1 Essington; 2 Bold Glance; 3 The Jackal.
Time: 1-08.75 (carrying 53kg). Last 600m: 33.93.
Margins: Long-neck. Long-neck.

The Darryl Hansen trained Essington made it four wins in a row and took his overall record to eight wins and three runner-up finishes from fourteen career starts when he captured the featured Quality Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday

The four-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice flashed up late to snare the more than useful Bold Glance in the final strides of the in a finish which attracted the attention of the stewards who have opened an inquiry into the running and handling of the second placed Bold Glance.

Whatever the outcome of that inquiry it was a telling effort by Essington, particularly as the gelding was having his second start in two weeks after being spelled for close on four months.

Bold Glance enhanced his reputation with his second placed finish while The Jackal once again had to take a bow for his trademark determined effort (under 60.5kg) which saw him claim third place. No cigar, no victory … just the usual admiration for a horse that can always be counted on to give his best.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Darryl Hansen: “I thought he’s get him (Bold Glance). I know he’ll fight all day this horses but, yeah, it’s just a massive relief.

“He knuckled down today. I thought he would. When I saw him chasing the horse I knew he’d get him.

“The pull in the weights certainly helped (Essington carried 3.5kg less than Bold Glance). I was always confident.”

Jockey Chris Munce: “Yeah look, it was getting a bit tight but, you know, I don’t think a lot of people really understand like he ran his heart out first-up and won by a big space and really put a lot of effort into it.

“It is very hard for horses to back up second run back from a spell and produce that sort of effort twice in a row.

“He’s done it here today and he’s run a bit of time and he was running down Bold Glance who is a very good horse.

“Both of these wins have been over 1200m. I have no doubt the 1300, 1400 … mile, is ideal for him.

“Like I say he’s run time here today. Full credit to Darryl (Hansen). He’s done a terrific job to get him up here today over 1200 and have him be able to run that sort of time. It was a good effort.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Essington): 1.75 in to 1.65 out to 1.75.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Correct weight was delayed to allow apprentice M. Wood to view the stewards' footage as he had concerns that Casholet may not have been afforded a fair start. After viewing this footage in the presence of trainer B. Guy, apprentice Wood did not wish to proceed with an application.

Fidakat (N. Tomizawa) jumped away awkwardly and shifted out hampering The Jackal (D. Browne)

Casholet (M. Wood) jumped away awkwardly.

Stewards have opened an inquiry into the running and handling of Bold Glance. After taking evidence from the trainer of the horse, N. Hilton, and rider B. El-Issa, the inquiry has been adjourned to a time and date to be fixed.

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