DOOM SEPT 22 - GYPSY PEARL TOUGHS IT OUT TO SECURE THE THIRD WIN FROM HER LAST FOUR STARTS

By Graham Potter | Saturday, September 22, 2012

Doomben, September 22, 2012.
Track - Good 3; Rail - out 6m (800m-375m); 4m (Remainder).
Class 6 Handicap (4yo and upward mares) - 1200m.
1 Gypsy Pearl; 2 Sky Effort; 3 Funny Falve; 4 Falvelina.
Time: 1-10.09. Last 600: 34.41.
Margins: 0.10; 0.50.

The Michael Lakey trained Gypsy Pearl was already a two-time winner going into this race but she was a revelation when notching up win number three.

In her previous wins Gypsy Pearl’s raw talent had carried her comfortably clear of her rivals. As such, her character had never been seriously tested. The biggest plus about what was to happen next was that it left nobody in doubt about the fact that this daughter of Danzero has the fighting quality to match her above average ability.

After easily dispatching the opposition in Class 3 company in her previous start, the lightly raced four-year-old, who as only having her seventh career outing, stepped up to take her place in a competitive, Class 6 Handicap.

The board-men were taking no chances. In fact they were running for cover as they had Gypsy Pearl priced up at restrictive odds throughout the betting. As already indicated though, in spite of those odds this one was to be no pushover for the favourite.

The race was run at a true gallop and Glen Colless positioned Gypsy Pearl just off the speed as Flinders City and Funny Falve set the early target.

Peeled out three wide on the home turn, Gypsy Pearl was perfectly poised to strike on straightening. She moved forward with menace but, as Flinders City weakened, Funny Falve found a kick and Sky Effort made a big play down the outside.

Both of these horses applied pressure on Gypsy Pearl who now not only had to find an extra gear to try and haul in Funny Falve, but she also had do enough to thwart the determined challenge from Sky Effort from behind..

Let’s say, it was a character building exercise … and Gypsy Pearl came through with flying colours.

Sky Effort, by ranging up on the outside of Gypsy Pearl, may even have helped the winner because the Lakey trained runner certainly seemed to respond to Sky Effort’s presence and the challenge it brought … but the bottom line is Gypsy Pearl, with Colless playing a vital part in a winning effort, put her head in front of Funny Falve with 25m left to run and was strong enough to the line to ultimately keep Sky Effort at bay, albeit by a narrow margin.

Gypsy Pearl is owned by Narish Holdings (Mgr J T Hutchins) who also bred the horse.
This was the mare’s third win from seven starts and took her race earnings to $69 800.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Lakey: “She got herself up off the canvas, dug deep and still got to the line, so there was plenty to like about that.

“She looked no chance of winning at the furlong. I thought she was gone.

“Glen (Colless) had two rides at 54 today and it gave me a bit of confidence that he was prepared to come and ride here at 54kg and it was obviously good to have him on when it counted.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “Yeah, she toughed it out today, all right

“She probably felt the track a bit today. I’ve always thought on the firm track that she was a bit susceptible to the firm surface and that’s what I said to Mick (Lakey) when I came back … she didn’t travel as good as she has done in her last two runs where she’s got down to it and really travelled.

“Today she held her spot just on the bit and then I really had to work from probably the 500 onwards to put her into the race. Luckily she was down 4kg in the weights and I think that was a factor in the end.

“No, I never ever thought she was beaten. I thought she’d keep digging. She’s a tough little thing but, as I said, I just think she felt the track today.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Gypsy Pearl): 1.90 out to 2.00 in to 1.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Empress Me (R. Wiggins) jumped away awkwardly. Bellantina (P. Hammersley) and Merryanna (M. Vance) were slow to begin.

Product (K. Matheson) raced wide without cover throughout.

Near the 500m Pretty Composed (B. Stewart) had to be steadied away from the heels of Around The World (A. Allen).

G. Cooksley, the rider of Sky Effort, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR. 137(a) in that after leaving the 300m he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of Product, resulting in Product being taken in on to Around The World, resulting in both horses being tightened for room and Around The World losing its position when taken in on to Pretty Composed.

G. Cooksley's licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 8 meetings, with the term to commence at midnight on Monday, 1 October, and expire at midnight on Sunday, 14 October 2012.

Bellantina was held up rounding the home turn and did not obtain clear running until the 150m.

More articles