EF MAR 19 - MR FAVULOUS RUNS AWAY WITH IT

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 21, 2011

Eagle Farm, March 19, 2011.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - out 6.5m.
QTIS Two-year-old Handicap - 1000m
1 Mr Favulous; 2 Easy Running; 3 Aquatorial.
Time: 59.52. (Carrying 53.5kg). Last 600m: 35.50.
Margins: 3.50; Half-neck.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Julia Simmonds (Part-owner and spokesperson for the Donald Baker stable): “He has been gelded since his win in November (at his previous start).

“He’s set now for a QTIS 600 race up in Toowoomba and then probably something in the carnival.

Jockey Mitchell Wood: “Yeah, it was obviously a good pick-up ride.” (Wood replaced Brent Evans who could not make the weight). “My weight is good for today … which is a change … and, yeah, the horse went nice too.

“He jumped … we actually felt we were going to be third behind number one and two (Easy Running and Aquatorial) … but he jumped like he had a rocket up his backside really. He jumped like a lightning bolt coming down and he just got out and got running.

“He’s already given me a nice feel going to the gates in that going.

“He led them on the bridle. We got around the top of the straight. He is like a push button … you press the button and he just lengthens. He lengthens quick and hard.

“The race they have in mind for him should be right up his alley. He’s raced on the Cushion before … yeah, it should be ideal.

“The track here is already probably bordering on heavy. They are getting into it and there’s a lot of moisture on it.

“He’s out of a Lion Hunter mare. They generally handle it. Horses that don’t handle the wet will struggle in it today.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Mr Favulous): 7.00 out to 6.00.
Favourite (Aquatorial): 2.60 out to 2.90. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Easy Running was presented late in the enclosure as it required farrier attention.

The start of this race was delayed when Lucky Tycoon and Gift Of The Day both had to be re-saddled upon arrival at the barriers.

Lucky Tycoon (App M. Speers) was slow to begin.

Aquatorial (B. Stewart) after being slow to begin was hampered soon after the start between All Significant (P. Hammersley) and Lucky Morna (C. Munce), which shifted in slightly.

Rare Find (S. Galloway) blundered soon after the start and lost ground.

After passing the 800m Lucky Morna shifted out and made contact with Gift Of The Day (App M. Palmer). Shortly after Gift Of The Day had to be eased when tightened for room between Lucky Morna and Whiskey Highway (J. Bowditch), which shifted in when not quite clear.

Near the 500m All Significant (P. Hammersley) was inclined to hang in and had to be restrained to avoid the heels of Aquatorial, which also shifted out slightly. As a result All Significant shifted out taking Rare Find (S. Galloway) wider on the track.

Hundred Cube (E. Wilkinson), Gift Of The Day and Easy Running (D. Browne) all raced wide throughout the event.

Stewards sought an explanation from B. Stewart as to the reason for him settling Aquatorial in a position worse than midfield, which is in contrast to the horse's normal racing pattern.

B. Stewart stated that Aquatorial did not begin as well as he would have liked and shortly after the start Lucky Morna shifted in tightening the running of Aquatorial.

B. Stewart added that a short time later, when able to do so, he rode Aquatorial to take up a more forward position however, the horse did not have the necessary speed and as a result settled further back than anticipated.

B. Stewart further added that in his opinion Aquatorial will be better suited in races of a longer distance than that of today's event.

Stewards questioned C. Munce regarding his riding of Lucky Morna over the final 200m.

C. Munce explained that Lucky Morna did not handle today's rain affected track conditions and whilst the filly made some ground over the final 200m, he was of the view that if he pressured the horse with the whip it would have been detrimental to its chances and due to the filly's inexperience he rode hands and heels to help it through the ground in the run to the finish.

Stewards noted his explanation.

More articles