DOOM OCT 27 - THINGS FALL INTO PLACE FOR RAPID LEICA DANE UNDER A GEM OF A RIDE FROM COLLESS

By Graham Potter | Saturday, October 27, 2012

Doomben, October 27, 2012.
Track - Good 3; Rail - out 8m.
No Metro Wins Handicap - 1200m.
1 Rapid Leica Dane; 2 Requested; 3 By Choice; 4 Comahni.
Time: 1-10.29. Last 600: 33.85.
Margins: 0.20; 0.80.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Matthew Dunn: “It’s great when you can put jockeys on and not have to ask them how to ride the horse or give them any ideas.

“We never make any requests of where we want horses to be when Glen (Colless) rides them. We know he will produce the best ride for the horse to win on the day and that ride was just another example of that.

“The horse is always thereabouts. His strike-rate could be better, but that has more to do with his racing pattern than anything else. Things need to fall into place for him as they did today.

“There is not a more consistent or more deserving horse to win a race … certainly not in my stable … and it is great to see him breakthrough, for the owners too because they have stuck with him even though his results have been frustrating at times.

“He’s got the job done today.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “He did need a bit of riding from a wide gate and he is a bit of a tricky horse to ride.

“I’ve always said to Matthew (Dunn), the more high pressure the races are the better they seem to suit him because he is a horse you have just got to snag and find the fence.

“He races so much better on the fence that horse. Today it worked out perfect.

“The split was always there for me to take in the straight, but he only just ran into it late.

“That’s half the trick with him too, you have got to time everything with him. I’ve ridden him a few times when he’s been a bit stiff … I wouldn’t say stiff in pilot error, but in a small horse error. Things have to go one hundred percent for him.

“In that regard he has been a very frustrating horse.

“As I said, he is just a better fence horse. From the ten gate today I just came out with one plan. I said to Matty I’m just going to snag him, find the fence and ride him for luck. If it comes it comes.

“Having said that, I did have a hope that today was his race. You know, there was going to be high pressure.

“He was poised to strike in the last furlong. Once I’d gone up the fence and got up inside Larry (Cassidy, riding Ruapehu Boy) I just thought I’d shift to the outside because there was a clear run there. And he hit the line hard.

“Yeah, things went our way today.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Rapid Leica Dane): 5.00 in to 4.80 out to 5.00.
Favourite (Requested): 6.00 in to 4.60. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Comahni, which kicked the enclosure fence whilst proceeding on to the track, was examined by the veterinary surgeon at the barriers and cleared to start.

At the start, Western Shadow (T. Harrison) and Rapid Leica Dane (G. Colless) made heavy contact, and a short distance later, both Western Shadow and Rapid Leica Dane had to be steadied when tightened for room between Rhapsodic (E. Wilkinson) and Fractions (B. Stewart), which shifted in.

R. Myers reported that By Choice raced fiercely and refused to settle, which resulted in her having to race wide throughout the race.

T. Harrison reported that it was her intention to ride Western Shadow in a forward position, however after receiving tightening at the start, the horse settled further back than anticipated and raced ungenerously in the early and middle stages.

Comahni (G. Cooksley) was tightened for room at the start between Ghostnthedarkness (M. Speers) and Ruapehu Boy (L. Cassidy), both of which shifted ground.

Near the 800m, Master Fibba (B. Richardson) had to be steadied from the heels of Catch The Light (M. Cahill), and then shifted in, making contact with Ruapehu Boy.

Rounding the home turn, Master Fibba shifted out, taking Ghostinthedarkness on to the hind quarters of Fractions (B. Stewart), resulting in Fractions becoming unbalanced.

Rhapsodic (E. Wilkinson) and Fractions (B. Stewart) raced wide throughout.

G. Cooksley, rider of the 4th placegetter, Comahni, was fined the sum of $200 for failing to ride his mount right out to the finish of the race.

B. Stewart was questioned regarding his failure to ride Fractions out over the final 200m. Jockey Stewart explained that Fractions raced fiercely in the early and middle stages and was caught wide on the track, and after being brushed on the hind quarters and becoming unbalanced on the point on the home turn, he tested the horse in the early part of the straight, however it did not respond to his riding and for this reason he relaxed on the horse over the final 200m.

In all the circumstances, stewards issued B. Stewart with a reprimand, and advised him he must ride his mounts right out the finish of the race in future.

A post race veterinary examination of Western Shadow revealed the horse to be lame in the near-fore fetlock. Connections were advised that a veterinary clearance will be required for the horse prior to its next race start.

A post race veterinary examination of Fractions failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Find out more about the winning trainer
Matt Dunn

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