SILVER WHISPER GHOSTS IN

By Matthew Grimson | Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Sunshine Coast, Sunday, June 21.
Track - Cushion Track
1 Silver Whisper; 2 Cooly Road; 3 Monates

Silver Whisper missed the jump. Jockey Nathan Thomas was initially happy to let her find her feet at her own pace at the rear of the field. By the 900m mark the grey filly was ready to go to work and Thomas asked her to make steady improvement in the sweep to the turn.

Going around the field, Silver Whisper came into the straight as the widest runner. She continued her run, pushing forward to join issue with Monates and Cooly Road in a three-way battle for victory 200m out.

Monates was the first one beaten and when Silver Whisper got her head in front of Cooly Road the result looked to have been decided, but Silver Whisper’s effort seemed to miss a beat every second stride over the final 100m. As it turned out that had more to do with the jockey’s vision than the horse’s commitment (see Stewards Report Extract). With Cooly Road fighting every inch of the way the margin came down to as close as a short half-head at the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Andrew Williamson: “She can gallop. It is just taking a while for the penny to drop ... and it’s still not there. Nathan (Thomas) said at the top of the straight she was just going to go right past them, but then when she got to the front she got a little bit lost and it got quite close in the end. No, it hasn’t been a conscious plan to race her on the Cushion Track. That is just the way things have worked out. I think she will be better on the grass.”

Jockey Nathan Thomas: “It was a lovely run. I won the maiden on her a few starts back (also on the Cushion Track) and since then she’s been pretty disappointing. She’s still learning though and she’s a very green filly. She got back to last so it was a fantastic effort for her to make up the ground. I think she is better on the Cushion Track, it gives her a chance to dig in. I think they are a little too quick for her on the grass."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Silver Whisper): 3.30 out to 4.20.
Favourite (Monates): 3.20 into 3.00. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
N. Thomas, rider of the winner, Silver Whisper, was questioned regarding his riding out of his mount over the concluding stages where it appeared he failed in his obligations under the rules to ride Silver Whisper out to the finish line.

N. Thomas explained that he had raced in a rearward position during the early stages and as a result visibility through his goggles was severely limited. He added that this, together with being positioned wide on the track, resulted in him being unable to clearly establish where his mount was positioned in relation to the finish post.

Whilst acknowledging the difficulties he experienced, N. Thomas was nonetheless advised that in similar circumstances he should err on the side of caution and continue to ride his mounts out until he is sure he has passed the winning post.