DOOM AUG 27 - SHAMARDASHING LANDS HAT-TRICK

By Graham Potter | Sunday, August 28, 2011

Doomben, August 27, 2011.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - out 2m.
1MW Handicap - 2020m.
1 Shamardashing; 2 Billum; 3 Daad's Overtime; 4 Sunshine Angel.
Time: 2-18.45. Last 600m: 37.56.
Margins: Head, Short-neck.

Shamardashing looked the part here and he was duly installed as a $3.00 favourite.

The five-year-old was bidding for a hat-trick after landing eye-catching wins over 1640m at Doomben on July 27 and over 1820m at Eagle Farm on August 13. He was stepping up to 2020m here.

Shamardashing had only been tested on heavy going once before back in April and he conquered the ground then in what was his second career win coming in Class 3 company. Not exactly conclusive evidence, but the overall view was that he offered punters the best option in the race and he was supported accordingly.

Their enthusiasm would have been as damp as the track as the field turned for home.

The start had gone well enough with Tim Bell getting Shamardashing into fifth spot, three out, when the runners past the post for the first time. The son of Shamardal lost his position in the swing out of the turn and went back in the field and didn’t improve in the back straight or in the sweep to the final turn, so that he was well out his ground when the field straightened for home.

Given the established front-running pattern of the earlier three races, a horse in ninth spot, seven wide and more than eight lengths off the lead would seem to be in dire straits. That was the task facing Shamardashing turning for home.

There was a difference however, and that was that this was a staying test (the longest trip in the previous three races had been 1350m). With some horses likely to be tiring in front of him, Shamardashing would still have his chance IF he could draw on some reserve of strength. It was still a big ask.

Tim Bell would admit later that he had all but given up on his mount’s chances but, with the whole length of the straight to go, he kept working at his mount. Slowly at first … and then with greater determination coming through the 200m mark, Shamardashing responded with meaning … and he made up ground quickly once in full stride.

From ‘nowhere’ he suddenly looked like he would win with ease, but Billum ($13.00) and Daad’s Overtime ($5.50) were strong enough to make their own play for glory and their game efforts all the way to the line ensured that Bell had to coax all he could out of his mount until the very last stride for Shamardashing to secure his hat-trick.

Shamardashing is owned by Patinack Farm racing Syndicate (Mgr: N L Tinkler).

The five-year-old is now a five-time winner from nineteen starts (with three minor placings) and stake earnings of $117 290.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Stable foreman Brett Killian: “Today was a massive effort on the heavy track.

“He’s proved he can be up on the speed like last week and sprint and he got back today and was able to round them up. He’s got the makings of a nice middle distance horse.”

Jockey Tim Bell: “Look, I’ll be completely honest … at the 1000m I thought this horse can’t win.

“I had slow runners to my inside and to my outside when I wanted to go forward. I started to pop out and … he never sprinted as such … but he kept grinding the whole way in the track out there.

“He was probably the best stayer in the race and he had good form. If you look at his form he is really starting to go through is grades. There are still plenty of wins left in the horse.

“I don’t think he appreciated the going much but, in the end, he was just too good for them today.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Shamardashing): 2.50 out to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Acting on veterinary advice that Dave The Dude was lame and exhibiting gait abnormality in its off-hind leg, stewards declared the gelding a late scratching at 1.42 p.m. Trainer B. Wakefield was advised that he must produce a veterinary certificate of fitness for Dave The Dude prior to its next start.

Trainer B. Smith was advised that a warning would be placed on Sunshine Angel (S. Seamer) for that mare being reluctant to proceed to the barriers when called by the starter.

Tripitz (Matthew Palmer) and Eddie Rapido (L. Rolls) were slow to begin.

M. Bennett, the rider of Desert Bunny, was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in passing the winning post on the first occasion tightening the running of Panningen (J. Byrne), which had to be steadied.

Near the 500m Eddie Rapido was inconvenienced when tightened for room by Tripitz, which was taken in slightly by Billum (R. Wiggins).

Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice M. Hellyer regarding the riding tactics he adopted on Rock Rules.

M. Hellyer stated that he was instructed to settle in a handy position with cover, but as he was going to be caught three wide in the early stages to the outside of Billum, he elected to restrain Rock Rules to a trailing position behind Billum, however Rock Rules then commenced to over-race.

He further added that after passing the 1600m he allowed Shamardashing (T. Bell) to cross his mount as he was of the view that this may assist Rock Rules in settling. He further stated that as Rock Rules continued to over-race he made the decision to shift to a three wide position approaching the 1200m and allow the gelding to stride forward.

Trainer Paula Campbell confirmed that she had instructed apprentice Hellyer to settle in a handy position and whilst initially expressing disappointment over the ride, after viewing the films could understand the circumstances that led to both M. Hellyer settling Rock Rules further back than anticipated and his decision to allow the gelding to stride forward in the middle stages. Stewards accepted the explanations of both parties.

Stewards afforded J. Byrne the opportunity to explain the performance of Panningen.

J. Byrne stated that whilst the horse has been successful on rain-affected surfaces in the past, he believes the horse is far more effective on top of the ground, but despite this felt the horse was nevertheless disappointing notwithstanding that it was contesting a better class of race today.

S. Seamer was asked to explain the riding tactics he adopted on Sunshine Angel approaching and rounding the home turn where there appeared to be an opportunity for him to trail Panningen closer to the rail and improve into the race.

S. Seamer stated that due to the prevailing track conditions he had limited visibility in this section of the race and he felt it was a better option to trail Shamardashing, which was the favourite, into the race and shift wider in the home straight. Stewards accepted his explanation.

The veterinary surgeon reported that Paper Weight (P. Hammersley) sustained a small laceration to the near-hind canon during the race.

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