DOOM OCT 1 - HUXTABLE SHOWS EXPECTED IMPROVEMENT; SCORES COMFORTABLY

By Graham Potter | Monday, October 1, 2012

Doomben, October 1, 2012.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 1m.
Maiden Plate (Colts, geldings and entires) - 1350m.
1 Huxtable; 2 Excellent Al; 3 Casino Gardens; 4 Not Without Sin.
Time: 1-21.46. Last 600: 35.92.
Margins: 1.00; 2.80.

Huxtable showed the expected progressive improvement following his third placed finish behind Take A Jacket when on debut over 1200m, also at Doomben, twelve days earlier.

With the claim Huxtable was no less than 4kg better off at the weights with the favourite Outback Biff and, when that became an unequal battle early in the straight as the favourite began to weaken out of it, Huxtable was able to stride clear and go to the line with the result no longer in any doubt.

Huxtable is a three-year-old son of Choisir out of the Royal Academy dam Lyford. He is still a colt. He was a $45 000 purchase at the 2011 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. In two starts he has earned $27 300 in stakes.

Huxtable is owned by Dr J R Hooper and Dr K Mccasker.
The colt was bred by G Webb Breeding venture.

Excellent Al caught the eye when hitting the line well after coming form well back to claim the runner-up slot on debut. Well bred (Al Maher-Excellent Prospect) Excellent Al should be well worth a second glance next time out.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Michael Nolan: “He went well here first-up. He trialed well in Toowoomba, so he was always going to improve a bit from his first-up run.

“When we saw this maiden on with the money we thought we’ll have a go at it, you know. It’s the same lot of horses … Outback Biff and them all, so we thought, why not have a go at it.

“We did have the barrier to contend with, but we had Kirk (Matheson) on him with the light weight and he was always just going to go forward. He’s got get plenty of pace so we knew when he got over, if he doesn’t lead he’d be running second.

“He did that and was strong at the end.”

Jockey Kirk Matheson: “That was only his second start. He is still a little bit green, but he got out and got alongside the leader pretty nice.

“He travelled very nice throughout the run. I was a bit worried when one came around me three deep. I thought he might have tried to get on the bit and charge a bit, but he was as good as gold.

“He nearly did everything right and there should be more improvement in him.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Outback Biff (G. Colless) and Leo Jet (M. Hellyer) brushed on jumping away. Patent Pending (B. Stewart) lost its footing on jumping away.

Master Carter (C. Munce), Popular Belief (J. Stanley) and Svetski (J. Byrne) raced wide throughout.

Near the 700m Multiple (C. Pye) was steadied when tightened for room between Excellent Al (L. Cassidy) and Leo Jet, which was taken in slightly by Svetski.

J. Stanley reported that Popular Belief was inclined to lay out from leaving the 600m.

Casino Gardens (J. Lloyd) lost its near-hind plate in running. Lifting Benny (T. Bell) lost its off-fore plate in running.

When asked to explain the performance of Outback Biff, G. Colless said the horse travelled well throughout, however when asked for an effort in the home straight the gelding failed to respond and in his opinion was disappointing.

Trainer R. Heathcote was at a loss to explain the performance, however agreed with the comments of jockey Colless. Mr Heathcote undertook to advise stewards of anything that comes to light in coming days which may have had an effect on the performance. A post-race veterinary examination of Outback Biff revealed no significant findings.

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