EF MAR 5 - GENERAL SECRETARY WINS AS SHE LIKES

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 7, 2011

Eagle Farm, March 5, 2011.
Track - Heavy 10. Rail - out 4.5m.
No More Than 2 MW Handicap (Special conditions) - 1200m.
1 General Secretary; 2 Tisani Boy; 3 In Rehearsal.
Time: 1-13.40. (Carrying 53kg). Last 600m: 36.08.
Margins: 2.00. Short-neck.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brett Baker: “Lovely … in control!

“Larry (Cassidy) said there wasn’t a great deal of pace on … and he expected there wouldn’t be.

“He said, if I have to go to the front that’s where I’ll go. I said, that’s alright … I’m happy enough to do it too.

“Yeah, I don’t think they were ever going to beat her the way the race was run … and she just loves the sting out of the ground.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “Look, she is a lovely honest mare.

“The wet track helped her today. She’s got bad feet and when she gets on top of the ground … because she tries so hard … you know, hard tracks just bugger her up because she has got a funny, awkward action.

“Today she just loved it.

“I was happy enough to lead, for sure, but if something wanted to go I would have been more than happy to let it go because … like she can pick up and sprint and she doesn’t mind a fight.

“I was a little bit surprised I got it so easy in front. I thought they might have pressed a little bit because the way the track was.

“I think the grey (Borsha’s Warrior) was going to lead, but he missed the start.

“Like I said to Brett (Baker) beforehand, if we end up in front I’m not going to break her neck.

“We got left alone. I was able to stay hard against the fence until we actually nearly straightened and then I just angled out … well that saved me a length.

“While they were getting out for the turn, I was come and gone.

“She looked sensational today. Brett has done a great job. He really had her looking like a winner.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Favourite (General Secretary): 2.50 out to 2.90 in to 2.70.
The winner was the favourite.

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

Borsha's Warrior (J. Bowditch), which was fractious in the barriers, jumped away awkwardly and had to be checked shortly after the start when tightened for room between General Secretary (L. Cassidy) and Lifebuoy (J. Wood), which shifted in after receiving heavy contact from Craiglea Falcon (K. Wharton)

Maroon Bells (J. Holder) stood flat-footed at the start, losing considerable ground. Trainer J. McLachlan was advised that he would be required to provide a barrier test certificate for Maroon Bells prior to its next race start.

Borsha's Warrior was hampered shortly after the start when tightened for room between General Secretary, which shifted out, and Lifebuoy, which after being brushed by Craiglea Falcon (K. Wharton), shifted in.

M. Hellyer, rider of Tisani Boy, was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in near the 1100m when insufficiently clear of Craiglea Falcon, resulting in Craiglea Falcon having to be steadied.

Near the 1000m, due to the slow pace, Borsha's Warrior commenced to race very fiercely and shifted out, making heavy contact with Lifebuoy, which was also over-racing at this stage. Myndos, which was trailing and also racing fiercely, had to be steadied at this stage.

Apprentice M. Hellyer, rider of Tisani Boy, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that near the 400m, he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Borsha's Warrior, resulting in Borsha's Warrior being taken out on to the hind quarters of In Rehearsal (T. Huxham) and having to be steadied.
M. Hellyer's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 meetings to commence midnight 12 March 2011 and to expire midnight 23 March 2011.

Stewards sought an explanation from T. Huxham, rider of In Rehearsal, as to why he did not progress forward given the slow tempo when trapped three wide in the early stages.

Apprentice Huxham stated he was instructed to ride the horse from a rearward position, as is its normal racing pattern, and whilst he considered progressing forward around Tisani Boy in the early stages, he was able to obtain a position one off the fence outside Borsha's Warrior near the 800m, and elected to remain there.

He added that no sooner had he occupied that position when Borsha's Warrior, which was over-racing, shifted out, taking him wider on the track.

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