DOOM OCT 1 - RODRIGUEZ’S STRONG FIRST-UP SHOWING

By Graham Potter | Monday, October 1, 2012

Doomben, October 1, 2012.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 1m.
Benchmark 70 Handicap - 1010m.
1 Rodriguez; 2 Devils Melody; 3 Embraer; 4 Fusette.
Time: 59.42. Last 600: 34.60.
Margins: 0.20; 0.80.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Gollan: “I’ve had the horse since he came back from a spell. He injured his whither in an accident and then had a good, long spell at the owner’s place … Dennis Dickman’s place.

“He came in. My dad pre-trained him up in Toowoomba. He came down to me … had a barrier trial. He improved nicely from the trial … good alley today, good ride … he got the job done.

“Obviously probably the best horse in the race, but the best thing in the race was the last 50m when the second horse loomed up to him but he was very strong.

“He will go straight now to at least a five-and-a-half or a six. The 1000 is a little bit short for him.

“Yeah, he’ll poke his way along. He is a nice horse … lightly raced and he should step to Saturday Class 6 level and be competitive.”

Jockey Maija Vance: “I hadn’t ridden the horse before. I opted to take a bit of a sit on him which is sort of a risky thing to do over 1000m, but he came back to me really good.

“He travelled into it really well. I didn’t want to get there too early … I didn’t want him to use too much energy early because he hasn’t been racing for a while.

“I saw the horse come up outside me and it looked like it was going to catch him but he fought on well to the line.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Piccolo Dynasty (E. Wilkinson) jumped away awkwardly, shifted in and made heavy contact with the hind quarters of Tapiki (T. Bell). Piccolo Dynasty became unbalanced as a consequence.

Encinitas (M. Cahill) raced extremely wide throughout.

Piccolo Dynasty was held up for clear running from the 450m until near the 200m.

R. McMahon, the rider of 3rd placegetter Embraer, was reminded of his obligation to ensure he rides his mounts out to the end of the race.

A post-race veterinary examination of Craiglea Fighter (C. Pye), which finished a distant last, revealed the gelding to be lame in the off-foreleg. Trainer D. Gardiner was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required for the horse prior to its next start.

Tapiki lost its near-hind plate in running.

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