EF APR 02 - AZZALAND'S IMPRESSIVE RETURN TO RACING

By Graham Potter | Sunday, April 3, 2011

Eagle Farm, April 2, 2011.
Track - Slow 7. Rail - out 3m (1000m to 400m). True for remainder.
Open Handicap - 1000m.
1 Azzaland; 2 Another Takeover; 3 Cattleman.
Time: 58.03. (Carrying 56kg). Last 600m: 34.94.
Margins: 1.00; Short-head.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Richie Stephenson: “He’s been away for so long (fourteen months) because he has had joint problems.

“He’s had new American treatment on his joints and he had to have surgery, so he just needed the time. It wasn’t major surgery so there was never any doubt he would be back. It was just the time factor.

“We decided to give him a long spell. Then we were held up with wet weather. We were doubtful whether to bring him here today, but I’m pleased we did.

“We can’t get another suitable run for him for quite a while. We’ll just keep him ticking over. There are a couple of nice races coming up for him at Doomben.

“The jockey (Nori Yamada) did a good job. He can ride this fella. He has got a bit of age on him and he is very strong and he can claim three.

“And give Alan Miller some praise as well. Alan rides Azzaland in work and does a marvelous job with him. He’s been with him all the way through.

Jockey Nori Yamada: “I was always confident I would run them down in the straight.

“I had a big hold coming through the 400m and he finished off well. He probably knocked up just a little bit in the last part, but that was because of the heavy track and because it was his first run in fourteen months.

“He did a good time though, which was great. It was a good effort.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Azzaland): 3.60 out to 4.40.
Favourite (Monashee Dancer): 3.00 out to 3.10. Finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Apprentice J. Wood was fined $300 for failing to claim his full allowance on Mr Hornblower, and for being unable to claim his full allowance and having to be replaced on Callan Park (Race 3) and Charter Boat (Race 5). Apprentice M. Speers was substituted as the rider of Callan Park and apprentice L. Rolls as the rider of Charter Boat.

Another Takeover (P. Hammersley) and Mr Hornblower (J. Wood) were slow to begin.

Passing the 600m, Kelly (G. Lynch) raced awkwardly for a number strides and became unbalanced for a short distance.

Jockey L. Cassidy, rider of Falvelina, was issued with a reprimand for using his whip on more than 5 occasions in a forehand manner prior to the 100m.

Stewards sought an explanation regarding the performance of Monashee Dancer.

Apprentice M. Palmer explained that the horse settled well in the lead, however was pressured for that position from the 700m until shortly after straightening by Tycoon Tattoo (J. Bowditch), which was racing to his outside.

He added that Monashee Dancer did not quicken when placed under pressure in the home straight and was disappointing over the final 200m.

Trainer D. Bell was also disappointed with the performance of Monashee Dancer and was of the opinion that the one month break between runs may not have suited the horse and, in his opinion, Monashee Dancer would take benefit from today's race.

Mr Bell undertook to report to stewards any abnormality which may come to light which may have had a bearing on today's performance.

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

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