GOLD COAST JAN 7 - CARRY TO FORTUNE DEMOLISHES HER RIVALS IN BAT OUT OF HELL

By Graham Potter | Sunday, January 8, 2012

Gold Coast, January 7, 2012.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Bat Out Of Hell Quality Handicap - 900m.
1 Carry To Fortune; 2 Seek And Find; 3 Reilly Blue; 4 Inventory.
Time: 50.26. Last 600m: 32.45.

It was a big day out at the Gold Coast for local trainer Sandra O’Sullivan when Carry To Fortune lined her opposition in the featured Bat Out Of Hell Quality Handicap.

The five-year-old mare had finished a lack-lustre sixth in a barrier trial on December 20 but, when the real action was on, she came out firing on all cylinders underlining the fact that, as her record shows, she is a dangerous performer first-up.

A 900m dash, particularly when chasing reasonable prize-money, is no place for the faint-hearted. When you jump from the extreme wide draw (Carry To Fortune was drawn twelve out of twelve), the pressure is just that little bit greater, but basically the equation comes down to gate speed. If you have it, you have a chance. Carry To Fortune had a chance.

Two hundred metres into the race jockey Glen Colless had scorched Carry To Fortune into a share of the lead with the Trusted Partner. As they approached the turn these two runners had put two to three lengths on their rivals.

Trusted Partner held the inside on straightening while Colless was to happy to angle Carry To Fortune three off the rail. For a few strides it a battle of wills but Carry To Fortune’s superior strength soon became apparent and she moved into a clear lead a long way from home.

Any hopes on the part of her opposition that she might weaken and come to the pack soon went out of the window as Carry To Fortune was relentless in her pursuit of hitting the line hard and hitting it first.

In essence, although Seek And Find was closing too late at the line, it was a one horse race from the moment Carry To Fortune dispatched the challenge of Trusted Partner at the top of the straight.

Her solid effort, which left the others merely scrambling for a consolation prize, was a credit to her trainer who could not have turned the son of Carry The Flag out in better fighting trim.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Sandra O’Sullivan: “The owner bred her. He sends his mares to Carry The Flag.

“Yes, we were disappointed with her trial, but I have to say Glen (Colless) told us not to worry.

“No, I haven’t thought of anything beyond today. This was her mission. This is a big win for us. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Glen Colless: “She’s got a great record fresh. They’ve done a great job with her to get her up to this grade. She is one of those little fillies, she just flies fresh.

“I trialled her the other day. I ran last in the trial and there were a few long faces in the camp, but I said, ‘don’t worry too much’, you know. She just did it within herself.

“I wasn’t surprised how strong she was today … not at all. Like I said, the trial was no guide. She just went around but she felt alright and I had enough confidence she would put in fresh. The owners and the trainers were a little perplexed, but I said don’t worry about it … she’s on song … and in the race there was never a worry.

“In the right grade she’ll win again. She’ll win one of those fillies and mares races, for sure. She just has to be kept on the fresh side.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Carry To Fortune): 21.00 steady.
Equal favourite (Reilly Blue): 5.00 in to 4.80 out to 5.00. Finished third.
Equal favourite (Inventory): 4.60 out to 5.00. Finished fourth.
Equal favourite (Trusted Partner): 4.40 out to 5.00. Finished ninth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed after riders alerted stewards to the fact that a race plate was laying on the track near the 120m.

Inventory (M. Hellyer) lost its footing behind on jumping away resulting in the horse losing considerable ground.

Near the 300m Seek And Find (J. Taylor) shifted out making contact with Jopa (D. Griffin) resulting in that horse having to be steadied when taken in across the heels of Reilly Blue (C. Munce).

All That (R. McMahon) was unable to secure clear running in the home straight and as a result went to the line not fully tested.

J. Taylor reported that rather than risk being forced to race wide he decided to attempt to position Seek And Find near the fence in the early stages which resulted in the horse settling towards the rear of the field. J. Taylor added that in his view he did not feel the horse could take up a position any closer to the lead and informed stewards the horse would be better suited over further distance.

A post race veterinary examination of Trusted Partner revealed no abnormalities.

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