EF MAR 23 - MASTER OF PUPPETS PULLS ALL THE RIGHT STRINGS

By Graham Potter | Thursday, March 24, 2011

Eagle Farm, March 23, 2011.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 9m.
Maiden Handicap (Two-year-olds - Brisbane Bloodstock Bonus) - 1200m.
1 Master Of Puppets; 2 Takotna; 3 Margins.
Time: 1-12.58. (Carrying 57kg). Last 600m: 36.04.
Margins: 2.25; 1.25.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “I’ve always had a nice opinion of him. Even when Damian (Browne) rode him first star in his Maiden he thought, look he is a progressive style of horse … he is probably not yet up to Saturday grade, but then we took him to town on a Saturday on a heavy track and he ran a nice second (behind Jet Star Girl).

Damian got off him today and said he has definitely improved again and he said he is now definitely Saturday class and he is even going to be a nicer horse when he furnishes out a bit both mentally and physically.

“He is going to be a very nice three-year-old. I’ll give him another run or two now, but he certainly has got the makings of a very nice three-year-old.

“Damian said he got there too early today. He said the horse just pricked his ears when it got to the front.

“That’s a little bit what he does at home. That’s why I had to put the blinkers on just to focus him a little bit.

“I’m very happy with the way he is going.”

Jockey Damian Browne: “He is a laid-back type that’s probably going to make a better three-year-old.

“I just had to give him a bit of encouragement when asking him to let down

“He is still learning obviously (this was only Master Of Puppets’ third career start). I think anything he does at the moment is just a bonus for later on.

“In the finish it probably didn’t help getting to the front too soon. He pricked his ears. He is still not a hundred percent what it’s all about.

“Like I say, I think he’ll make a nice three-year-old.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Master Of Puppets): 1.40 in to 1.35.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Herecomestherain (M. Wood), Margins (P. Wolfgram) and Zigurat (C. Munce) were slow to begin.

Pym's Lane (J. Byrne) jumped away awkwardly, making heavy contact with Master Of Puppets (D. Browne).

Leaving the 800m, Declared Dangerous (M. Speers), when racing greenly, shifted out and bumped Margins.

Near the 600m, Declared Dangerous continued to race greenly and shifted in and away from Margins, which momentarily tightened the running of Herecomestherain.

Takotna (J. Stanley) raced three wide without cover throughout the race.

Margins also raced wide throughout.

Herecomestherain, which weakened badly from the 500m to be beaten a considerable distance, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon with no abnormalities reported.

Trainer B. Baldwin was advised that the gelding must compete satisfactorily in an official barrier trial before being eligible to race again, and would not be eligible to race at TAB venues until it can establish some form at country venues for what stewards deemed an unsatisfactory performance.

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