PATTIES MATE GETS THE JOB DONE

By Graham Potter | Monday, June 29, 2009

The Noel Ryan trained Patties Mate gained further reward for his on-going consistency when he stayed on under a strong ride from Anthony Merritt to beat back the determined challenge of the equally consistent Mauries Pick in a Class 6 Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

This was Patties Mate’s sixth win from 39 starts. The five-year-old also has 13 minor placings to his credit.

Sunshine Coast, June 27.
CG&E Class 6 Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-33.06.
Track - Heavy 10.
1 Patties Mate; 2 Mauries Pick; 3 Frisco's In Charge.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Noel Ryan: “He’s come into his form. We’ve had a few problems with him, but he’s right now. The condition of the track didn’t have a lot to do with the win today. He’d run on anything. We just had him prepared right. He’d gallop on wet or dry. He goes better on top of the ground actually. But he’s going well. We don’t have any short-term plans for him. Today was the big test.”

Jockey Anthony Merritt: “I’ve pretty much been with him since he was a young horse. The first time I ever sat on him he was a two-year-old at the track. He always showed plenty of promise, but he’s always just needed time and a bit of racing.

"He used to be more of a short-course horse ... 1000m, 1100m would be as far as he would go. But as he’s got older he’s getting more dour and he’s getting more professional. We’ve stepped him up in distance and it’s paying dividends. The track doesn’t bother him. He is just one of those horses who would run through wet concrete. He’s that type of horse. I think he’ll go up in distance, he’s bred to. He can.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Dawn’s Pride (M. Hellyer), and The Lording Dragon (K. Pope) were slow to begin. Deacon (B. Pengelly) lost ground at the start after jumping away awkwardly, and made heavy contact with Mr Doyle (M. Cahill). A post-race veterinary examination of Telesto Warrior failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.