EF OCT 01 - WHISPERING GAP SCORES COURAGEOUS WIN

By Graham Potter | Monday, October 3, 2011

Eagle Farm, October 1, 2011.
NMW Handicap (No sex restriction) - 1500m.
1 Whispering Gap; 2 Il Cardinale; 3 Mafioso; 4 Vintage Black.
Track: Good 3. Rail: True.
Time: 1-29.31. Last 600: 36.39.

The four-year-old gelding Whispering Gap stayed on long enough to see off the persistent challenge of Il Cardinale to claim the fifth win of his career at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

It was the usual spirited performance from the Bryan Guy trained runner who relishes being given the task out at the head of affairs where he is allowed to stride freely. Add a touch of fight to his character and you know Whispering Gap won’t lie down easily in the final chase to the line … as was the case here where Il Cardinal threw everything at the winner, but ultimately had to settle for second place.

Whispering Gap has been up a long time but, as shown by the zest of his performance on Saturday, the son of Arena clearly thrives on his workload which has been astutely handled by the stable.

Whispering Gap’s latest preparation count is now up to ten starts which has produced four wins, one second and one third placing.

Whispering Gap is owned by AB Downs, G Davies, A D Domney and P Karlsson.

The gelding was bred by Middlebrook Valley Lodge.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “He got down in the weights and that helped him … but look at his form. His form is consistent.

“The other day (which was the first time he missed first or second placing in his last five starts) they went mad. The young girl Priscilla (Schmidt) rode him as we asked to do. She did exactly what we wanted her to do. We wanted to lead, but another horse kept attacking him and they led by two or three lengths and went very hard. My horse finished sixth and the horse that went with him ran last … so we didn’t go badly.

“He always tries hard. He deserves a Saturday win because he has been going through his grades quite well.

“He did all the work today and really deserved the win.”

Jockey Eddie Wilkinson: “Bryan (Guy) said he is a free-rolling horse. He said, it’s better if you can dictate from the front. He has been behind before and he hasn’t wanted to chase.

“He pinged the gates I could see he was going to be able to lead quite comfortably.

“As soon as he did get to the lead, he tucked back under me and just seemed to bowl along. Probably from the three-and-a-half furlong marker I just let him go through his gears.

“There was a fair head-wind we were running into in the straight, so he did a good job to keep going.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Whispering Gap): 17.00 out to 19.00.
Favourite (My Elixa): 3.40 out to 3.80 in to 3.60.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Connections advised that Vintage Black would be ridden with cover today if circumstances permit. The horse was ridden accordingly.

Argenteum (K. Forrester) faltered shortly after the start.

I Love Tobouggie (J.Brown) was slow to begin.

Mafioso (J. Taylor), Dancefloor Prodigy (A. Pattillo) and Carry Me Baby (P. Schmidt) raced wide throughout.

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