EF MAR 23 - DANEOMITE BREAKS 21-MONTH DROUGHT

By Graham Potter | Thursday, March 24, 2011

Eagle Farm, March 23, 2011.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 9m.
Skills Queensland National Apprentice Series Class 3 Handicap - 1000m.
1 Daneomite; 2 Executive Officer; 3 Winds Of Fire.
Time: 58.60. (Carrying 53.5kg). Last 600m: 34.81.
Margins: 0.75. Long-head.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ted Harden: “He hasn’t been able to win for a long time, but he’s run behind some good horses.

“He’s run second to Temple Of Boom and he’s run second to Funtantes … but he’s still getting beaten.

“We were happy with the one hundred and fifty odd thousand he’d won before this but it as good that he finally got a result. He is very honest.

“The only instructions I gave the apprentice was, just try to not use the whip in the left hand because he might lay in … which he did.”

Jockey Ronan Keogh: “There was a load of speed on so I thought I’d just sit against it and hold him together.

“He nearly threw it away later up the straight, but I got him back and he won well in the end.

“He drifted in at the finish. He was causing me a bit of trouble, but I just put the stick away and kept him as straight as I could.

“This series is very good for apprentices, particularly someone like me. I don’t get to ride interstate very often so it was good to win here.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Daneomite): 6.00 out to 8.00.
Favourite (Tunahog): 2.00 in to 1.75 out to 2.00. Finished ninth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gallant Hawk (J. Wood) was slow to begin.

Apprentice J. Mallyon reported that near the 700m, his saddle slipped, which placed him at a disadvantage for the remainder of the race.

Near the 600m, Lots Of Allure (B. Wallace) blundered and became unbalanced.

From the 600m, Pegunny Warrior (L. Stojakovic) hung out and made the home turn awkwardly and brushed Tunahog (Michael Palmer) on a number of occasions.

Nearing the 300m, Daneomite (R. Keogh), which was inclined to lay in, had to be steadied from the heels of Winds Of Fire, which shifted out to improve. J. Mallyon, rider of Winds Of Fire, was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances in future.

Approaching the 200m, Whiner (M. Speers) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Winds Of Fire, which shifted in when not fully clear. J. Mallyon, rider of Winds Of Fire, was advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground in future.

Nearing the finishing line Winds Of Fire (J. Mallyon) was bumped heavily when racing between Executive Officer (D. Lane) and Daneomite (R. Keogh), which shifted in abruptly under pressure.

Apprentice R. Keogh, rider of Daneomite, was issued with a severe reprimand and advised in similar circumstances he must make greater effort to stop riding and straighten his mounts sooner than he did on this occasion.

Stewards questioned apprentice Michael Palmer regarding the riding tactics employed on Tunahog, in particular whether when racing outside the leader, Pegunny Warrior, near the 700m he gave consideration to surrendering that position when challenged by Whiner.

M. Palmer explained that he rode with some vigour in the early stages and Tunahog travelled comfortably outside of the leader, although he was inconvenienced when Pegunny Warrior was inclined to hang out for a major part of the race.

He further stated in his view it would have been detrimental to the chances of the gelding to restrain after passing the 700m to allow Whiner to cross to the position outside the leader, as this may have resulted in him having to race wide without cover.

Trainer L. Mayfield-Smith advised that he had instructed apprentice Palmer to attempt to obtain cover during the race as Tunahog has shown in the past that when ridden this way it finishes its races off strongly.

He added that it was his opinion that it would have been a better option for apprentice Palmer to restrain Tunahog when challenged by Whiner to avoid having to work hard with three runners sharing the lead.

Stewards noted the explanations.

A post race veterinary examination of Tunahog failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

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