GCTC JUL 01 - SAVANNAH LA MAR UPSTAGES LITTLE MEL

By Matthew Grimson | Friday, July 3, 2009

Gold Coast, July 1, 2009.
Class 5 Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-26.86.
Track - Slow 6.
1 Savanna La Mar; 2 Little Mel; 3 Bradfield.

Little Mel was priced up at ultra-short odds here with only one other runner (Under Construction) being quoted under double figures, but neither got the line first as the Mark Sims trained Savannah La Mar upstaged them all to claim the fifth win of her career.

The favourite appeared to have a winning move shortly after hitting the home straight but 60kg is a big weight to carry on soft going. Savannah La Mar, who was receiving 6.5kg from the winner, was able to find a change of gear when it mattered and she accelerated past Little Mel, who had no answer to her challenge in the closing stages.

Savannah La Mar raced in feature events in town in two out of her last starts so the drop back to a Class 5 Handicap was always going to be in her favour and a change of gear (cheekers off first time. Bits (Lugging) on again) helped do the rest.

For Little Mel, there was no disgrace in defeat. He faces a quick back-up, having accepted to race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mark Sims: “We expected her to race really well. She’s been racing good in Brisbane. Her last two starts were good and today we thought she would go alright. She’s had no luck in Brisbane each time, but enjoyed a little drop back in class today. We’ve got no real plans except that she’s probably going to go to stud at the end of July.”

Jockey Daniel Griffin: “Gutsy effort. Geez, it was a huge effort. We got back to last. She didn’t like being restrained and getting back there, but the way the track’s playing... it’s playing a little bit of a swooping track today, so I wanted to be back there and make one run. We took off at the 700m. We ended up outside Little Mel. I asked for a little bit more and she responded, so it was a real gutsy win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Savannah La Mar): 8.00 out to 10.00.
Favourite (Little Mel): 2.10 out to 2.20 in to 1.80.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Savanna La Mar (D. Griffin) was tightened on jumping away between Tag (D. Tanti) and Life’s Short (M. Cahill), which was taken in by Framboise (S. Galloway). Grey Expectations (L. Cheshire) began awkwardly. Life’s Short raced wide for the majority of the event.

C. Reith the rider of Bradfield pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137(a) in that on straightening he allowed his mount to shift out resulting in Framboise and King Leonidas (App M. Hellyer) being checked. C. Reith's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of seven (7) meetings to commence midnight 4 July 2009 and expire midnight 17 July 2009. In assessing penalty stewards took into account C. Reith's relatively good record.