EF OCT 20 - FILLYDELPHIA STIKES BACK

By Graham Potter | Saturday, October 20, 2012

Eagle Farm, October 20, 2012.
Track - Good 3; Rail - out 4m entire course.
Open Handicap - 1400m.
1 Fillydelphia; 2 Joint Chiefs; 3 Bold Glance; 4 Craiglea Falcon.
Time: 1-22.56. Last 600: 36.19.
Margins: 1.30; 0.80.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “She was reported to be lame after her disappointing effort last week, but the funny thing about it was we are still not exactly sure why.

“Mark, the vet at the track, went over her and said she wasn’t fluent in her action after the race. You know I got her home after the race. We got our vet there on Sunday and we couldn’t find anything.

“We X-rayed knees, fetlocks … the whole lot. We did every possible test that could be done and we couldn’t fault her. She has just been great at home.

“She was in a lovely, relaxed mood here today and the true Fillydelphia stood up.

“As soon as he got her in the clear I knew she’d be hard to beat.

“How did you like the ride? Damian Browne … he is just the best.

“By the way, I’d like to congratulate the Queensland trainers for their success down south. It was fantastic for Liam (Birchley) to win one in Melbourne. Then the young lad Brian Dias … he ran third and then the old fat fella Schweida got one up in Sydney. Good on them.”

Jockey Damian Browne: “Obviously she is better than what she showed at her last start.

“We got a lovely trip throughout. There was always going to be good speed in the race. Always travelling good. I followed Joint Chiefs through and he took me into the race at the right time.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Fillydelphia): 3.60 in to 3.20.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer H. Wilson was reprimanded for failing to lodge a stable return to change the racing colours of Fifteen Carat.

Trainer R. Heathcote advised it will the intention to ride Fillydelphia with cover today if circumstances permit. The horse was ridden accordingly.

Anchor Bolt (S. Apthorpe), Fifteen Carat (J. Taylor) and Craiglea Falcon (K. Wharton) were all slow to begin.

Craiglea Tina (App B. Richardson) hung out throughout the event and as a result raced extremely wide throughout the event. Trainer P. Fleming was advised that Craiglea Tina must now trial to the satisfaction of stewards before being permitted to race again.

Stewards sought an explanation from C. Munce regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Koranovsky. C. Munce advised stewards that he was satisfied with the manner in which Koranovsky travelled over the first half of the race however, after passing the 700m the mare commenced to lay out, was under extreme pressure approaching the home turn and failed to respond to his riding thereafter.

Trainer T. Gollan informed stewards that he was a little concerned with the rate at which Koranovsky had recovered following the event and in light of its disappointing performance he would consider giving the mare a let up from racing. A post race veterinary examination of Koranovsky revealed no abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation from J. Taylor in respect of his riding of Fifteen Carat in the home straight. J. Taylor informed stewards that the horse travelled strongly to the home corner and he moved the horse into clear running in the early part of the straight however, Fifteen Carat only accelerated for a short distance and after passing the 300m commenced to tire and from that point he used his whip sparingly in a backhand fashion.

After considering J. Taylor's explanation stewards informed him that he must test his mounts to the extent that did not leave him open to question.