EF FEB 26 - CAT EYES PREVAILS IN PRESSURISED FINISH

By Graham Potter | Monday, February 28, 2011

Eagle Farm, February 26, 2011.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 2.5m.
Class 6 Handicap (C, G & E) - 1200m.
1 Cat Eyes; 2 I'm Ruthless; 3 Silent Movie.
Time: 1.09.55 (Carrying 53kg). Last 600: 35.10.
Margins: Nose; Neck.

The Kelso Wood trained Cat Eyes prevailed in a pressurized finish to see off the strong challenge of I’m Ruthless by the proverbial nose in a Class 6 Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

There was only another neck back to the third placed Silent Movie as the race came down to a test of resilience in the final strides where the runner’s mental keenness for a fight was as much in play as their outright ability.

This was Cat Eye’s fourth start this time in and his victory came off the back of two, honest third placed finishes in his previous two starts.

The son of Catbird has an overall record of seven wins from thirty-eight starts and the result boosted his stake earnings total past the $200 000 mark.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelso Wood: “He is a beautiful horse. He is an easy horse to do anything with … and he always puts in.”

Jockey Michael Hellyer: “I thought I won on the photo. I thought I did hang on.

“I was glad to see Eddie’s horse (I’m Ruthless) lay out the last bit. That helped me. He probably got a neck in front of me. I thought I was beaten at the 100.

“Look, I had a lovely run. I couldn’t have given him a better run. I got the split. I probably hit the front too soon.

“To his credit, he really dug in today, you know. He was beaten several times down the straight and he put his neck out and really tried today.

“That's the second time I’ve won on him. He really deserved that.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Cat Eyes): 5.00 out to 5.50.
Favourite (Brigadoon Jack): 4.20 out to 5.00 in to 4.00. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As apprentice J. Wood was stood down by the Club's doctor, J. Bowditch was substituted as the rider of Our Scooby Doo when no other apprentice was available.

Daneomite (L. Rolls) jumped away awkwardly and contacted Silent Movie (S. Seamer).

I'm Ruthless (E. Wilkinson) also jumped a little awkwardly, shifted out and brushed Our Scooby Doo (J. Bowditch), which was taken out on to Bann Ruby (Michael Palmer).

Passing the 1000m Easy Rocker (S. Bogenhuber) was tightened for room to the inside of Silent Movie, which was inclined to lay in after being cramped for room by I'm Ruthless, which was also racing in restricted room to the inside of Joint Chiefs (M. Wood).

Stewards were of the view that the racing manners of Silent Movie contributed to this incident, however advised apprentice M. Wood to afford fellow riders sufficient racing room to his inside in future.

Bann Ruby raced wide throughout.

Silent Movie was again tightened for room approaching the 800m by I'm Ruthless which again was racing tight to the inside of Joint Chiefs.

Approaching the 300m Easy Rocker was hampered by I'm Ruthless, which shifted out under pressure.

Cat Eyes (M. Hellyer) shifted out under pressure over the final 200m.

Drum Run (B. El-Issa), which raced in a position outside the leader, compounded over the final 200m and when tiring laid in.

Our Scooby Doo lost its off-fore plate in running.

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