DOOM MAR 12 - LUCKY SONGS STRIKES GOLD

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 14, 2011

Doomben, March 12, 2011.
Track Good 3. Rail - Out 2m (1200 - 900). Out 1m the remainder.
No Metro Wins Handicap (Fillies & Mares - Special Conditions) - 1350m.
1 Lucky Songs; 2 Tafeer; 3 Norocos.
Time: 1-19.80. (Carrying 53kg). Last 600m: 35.10.
Margins: 1.25; Head.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Scott Morrisey (spokesman for the John Morrisey stable): “As a three-year-old she was a filly who we thought we could probably get to the Oaks … not saying that she would have won it or anything but we thought she was up to that challenge.

“We thought we could keep her at the coast and hopefully qualify but, as it turned out, horse sixteen in the Oaks last year had about $29 000 in prize-money and we missed out because she didn’t have enough prize-money in the end.

“So, we have always had an opinion of her. She is a real nice filly.

“She’s got a turn of foot. I was pretty confident with her today.

“I’m very excited, but we won’t get carried away or anything. She’ll just go through her classes.”

Jockey Matthew Palmer: “I’ve had a good association with her early on when I won on her at the Gold Coast.

“Look, she is very honest. She runs into a little bit of trouble just because of her racing pattern. She does get back in her races but, if she can get any luck inside the 600 … she is strong and is always going to give of her best in the end.

“Look, I think she can handle further. Our intentions were the Oaks early on and she just missed a run in that.

“John (Morrisey) has got her spot on and her win today was very dominant, so hopefully she can put a few more together after this race.

“Initially, once I got to one off the fence over the back that’s when I was happy because I had an awkward gate to contend with. I was pretty happy then.

“Coming to the turn I didn’t want to be pushed wide. Luckily enough we didn’t get scouted too wide turning and it all paid dividends in the end.

“Yeah, it’s good to be back here. I was off riding (through injury) for about seven months.

“I’ve only been back riding for three-and-a-half weeks. I think this is my seventh winner back, so, yeah, it’s been a long road … but it has been pretty successful for the short amount of time I’ve been back in the saddle.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Lucky Songs): 12.00 out to 13.00.
Equal favourite (Tafeer): 4.80 out to 5.50 in to 4.20. Finished second.
Equal favourite (Norocos): 3.80 out to 4.20. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Catalan Miss (J. Holder), Rockin' Roxy (L. Rolls) and Zenacity (B. El-Issa) were slow to begin.

R. Wiggins, the rider of Figasaurus, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR. 137(a) in that passing the 1200m he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Zenacity (B. El-Issa), resulting in that horse being taken in on to Yamarjie (Michael Palmer), causing that horse to shift in tightening the running of Glorietta (E. Wilkinson), which lost its rightful running.

R. Wiggins pleaded guilty to a further charge of careless riding in that near the 150m he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Joyeux Joy (G. Colless), resulting in G. Colless having to take hold of his mount and take evasive action to avoid the heels of Figasaurus.

R. Wiggins' licence to ride in races was suspended for periods of seven and eight meetings relative to each charge, with the terms of suspension to be served concurrently and to commence at midnight on Saturday, 19 March, and expire at midnight on Friday, 1 April 2011.

Joyeux Joy, Figasaurus (R. Wiggins) and Lucky Songs (Matthew Palmer) raced wide throughout.

Near the 500m Lucky Songs became awkward at the heels of Figasaurus and shifted out abruptly.

Following the running of Race 6 the track was upgraded to Good 3 retrospective to the running of this event.

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