LISM SEPT 27 - FLINDERS ROCK POWERS HOME

By Graham Potter | Thursday, September 27, 2012

Lismore, September 27, 2012.
Track - dead.
Class 1 Handicap 1516m.
1 Flinders Rock; 2 Beauty Strike; 3 Blue Marina; 4 Freerocker
Time: 1-31.15. Last 600m: 36.86.
Margins: 2.00; half-neck.

The Mark Palmer trained Flinders Rock struck winning form third-up after a three month layoff when he powered home in no uncertain terms in the third race on Lismore Cup day to put daylight between himself and the closely contested battle for the minor placings.

The lightly raced five-year-old gelding was always travelling well under a confident ride by Jason Taylor and when asked for his effort halfway up the straight he quickly put matter to bed and he had his race well won long before he crossed the line.

Flinders Rock is owned by E S Haack, S P Briggs, G R Shipperley, J J Burchill, A J Bosnan & J R Thompson. It was the gelding’s second win from fourteen starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mark Palmer: “I did think he could win today. I took him to Ipswich on Saturday and galloped him and he galloped better than a horse that ran second in a 60 rating, so I thought in a Class 1 he would be hard to beat … and he ran accordingly.

“Jason (Taylor) rode him in his previous start (when he finished third behind Sassy Maher). That day I told him to take a sit on him because I also thought then that he shouldn’t get beat, but he ended up leading on him second-up over a mile, so I was a bit disappointed with his ride, but I was happy to stick with him again this time.

“This time I said to Jason if something goes quick just sit behind it. He rode it perfectly. Like I said, I thought it was going to win. You know, you get a feel for your horse and this horse has worked better than a Class 1 horse.

“On top of the ground, over the mile … and if you keep him a little bit fresh, he’s got a few wins in him provided you get things going your way, like good riders, the right draws and obviously if are able to place him in the right race.

“The horse has come on. If you go back you’ll see won on the cushion with Teagan (Harrison). I was almost going to sack him at that stage, because I honestly didn’t think he would measure up beyond that..

“I gave him a spell and then the owner wanted me to take it back. So I ran him first-up at Ipswich in a 1350m. (Larry) Cassidy rode him. He finished back in the field …but he had no luck with him.

“When Larry got off, I said, oh I’ll take him to the cushion again. He’ll win a race on the cushion … and he said to me, he’ll win a race on the grass! He said that because he thought it was a good run in the circumstances.

“Today’s win proved him right.

“As I said I sort of wrote him off after his first prep, but the horse is getting better within himself as he gets older and you also learn about him at the same time. You work the horse out and place it to best advantage and that’s how you arrive at a win.

“Even if sometimes it takes a little time to get there it’s always a good result.”

STARTING PRICES:
Winner (Flinders Rock): 6.00
Equal favourite (Hebron Road): 5.00 finished unplaced.
Equal favourite (Hayil’s Way): 5.00 finished unplaced.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Alma Girl, Cool Tycoon and Cuban began awkwardly.

Flinder’s Rock over-raced approaching and passing the 1100m.

Passing the 200m Secret Touch was momentarily steadied after improving onto the heels of Gunfire Point.

Over the final 100m Secret Touch was unable to be tested when held up on the heels of Hayil’s Way.

A post race veterinary examination of Cool Tycoon (NZ) revealed the gelding to have speedy cuts to its off-hind pastern.

Find out more about the winning trainer
Mark Palmer

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