GCTC JUL 01 - DOUBLE FOR GRIFFIN AT THE COAST

By Matthew Grimson | Friday, July 3, 2009

Gold Coast, July 1, 2009.
Class 3 Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-13.62.
Track - Slow 6.
1 Run The Course; 2 Trixizar; 3 Simian Express.

Jockey Dan Griffin made it race-to-race wins when he completed a double aboard the Trevor Whittington trained Run The course in the last race at the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Griffin’s two winning rides were remarkably similar in pattern as he came from off the pace down the centre of the track on both occasions, testing both his own judgement and his mount’s ability to tough it out in a pressurised finish. Griffin earned full marks on both occasions.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Trevor Whittington: “He had a bit of a break before his last run, but there was nothing in that. We just turned him out and gave him a freshener. He is a real good little horse whose been very unlucky in a lot of races. Big run in his last start at Doomben (behind Fasdehere). He came from last and run fourth first-up ... and today he got the money.

“Yeah, he got back. That’s exactly what I said to Dan (Griffin). I said ride him exactly as you rode the last one (referring to Griffin’s earlier winner Savannah La Mar). You got to ride it back ... and he did it beautifully. That’s the way to do it. He has got the speed to lead them, but then he doesn’t finish off so there is only one way to do it. He’s a good horse but we’ve got no big plans. We’ll just let him go through his classes.”

Jockey Daniel Griffin: “Same sort of thing again as the previous one (on Savannah La Mar) ... just rode him quiet and made one run on her. Trev (Whittington) said he’s got a 350m sprint and I just had to utilise that and make sure I got to the line.

“It ended up being a gutsy win because I went for a run ... I got the run and then it closed ... so I had to come out again. Knowing what Trev said about how quick a turn of foot the horse has, I knew I would pick them up once I got into the clear. Just when that run stopped and I had to find another run that was the only worry. But, yeah, I was pretty happy with that.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Run The Course): 13.00 out to 14.00.
Favourite (Kalkie Kane): 3.30 out to 3.80 in to 3.60. Finished twelfth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Koorong Avenue (C. Reith) raced ungenerously in the early stages. Run The Course (D. Griffin) and Sevenspanishangles (App M. Speers) were held up rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight. Denby (App L. Rolls) was held up and unable to obtain clear running in the straight. Musically (M. Palmer) raced wide for the majority of the event.

When questioned regarding the performance of Kalkie Kane jockey T. Treichel stated that although the horse had raced well previously on a rain affected track the horse failed to handle today's track conditions. He further stated that in his opinion Kalkie Kane was better suited to races of a shorter distance rather than today's event. A post race veterinary examination of Kalkie Kane failed to reveal any abnormality. Stewards intend to question trainer L. Wheeler regarding the horse's post race recovery.

Griffin