DOOM NOV 6 - THE WHITE HOPE LANDS A CLEAN KNOCKOUT PUNCH

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Doomben, November 6, 2012
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10m 1000m-375m, out 8m remainder.
Benchmark 70 Handicap (Colts, geldings and entires) - 1350m.
1 The White Hope; 2 Arctic; 3 Belgrando; 4 Jersey Shore.
Time: 1-10.97. Last 600: 34.15.
Margins: 3.30; 0.40.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Matthew Dunn: “He’s run time almost every time he has been to the races, you know.

“It’s well documented that he failed first time on a wet track, but he has put that behind him. If he keeps improving he could end up a really nice horse.

“He was actually going to the 1350 pretty quick … second-up. He coped with that easily. He settled well in front. He does all the right things.

“He’ll go to a Saturday race now, because more than likely be weighted out of a Class 3.

“We’ll just take him little baby steps and just let him get there and let him tell us when he is ready to step up to the next level.

“He’s by Bradbury’s Luck who’s winning everywhere in the world at the moment, so who knows where he can end up.

Jockey Glen Colless: “He drew the outside gate … showed really good speed … crossed, led … got it pretty easy and then just came home. It was a good win.

“He keeps taking the next step. We’ve gone from a Maiden to a Class 1 at Ipswich and then we’ve come here today.

“Kelso’s horse (Seeking More) had a bit of a boom on it. I reckon there is a bit of a boom on our horse now … and ours had a lot more weight today.

“We’ve always had a bit of an opinion of him and he’s just doing everything we ask him to do. He is such a big, strong fella too, but he relaxes in the run which helps him.

“For sure he’ll be competitive in a Saturday race … and I think he’s going to get to a mile.

“High speed horses who can get to a mile have got a lot in their favour.

“I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (The White Hope): 3.80 out to 3.20.
Favourite (Seeking More): 1.90 out o 2.20 in to 1.80. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Extreme Mover (M. Vance) had to be steadied at the start when tightened for room between Square Up (T. Harrison) and Zeditave Plus (S. Bogenhuber), both of which shifted ground.

Jersey Shore (M. Cahill) was slow to begin.

R. Myers, rider of Seeking More, pleaded guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 1100m she permitted her mount to shift in, resulting in heavy contact between Seeking More and Square Up (T. Harrison), which further resulted in both horses becoming unbalanced and Square Up blundering.

R. Myers was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 10 November and to expire at midnight, 23 November.

As a result of Square Up losing ground in this incident, Belgrando (C. Munce), which was following, was obliged to shift out to avoid the heels of Square Up, which also resulted in Zeditive Plus (S. Bogenhuber) being taken wider.

Leaving the 900m, Castle Express (L. Cassidy), when being restrained to take up a position one away from the fence, raced ungenerously. Solar Heart (S. Galloway), which was trailing Castle Express, had to be steadied as a consequence.

Near the 200m, Jersey Shore had to be steadied when disappointed for a run between Square Up (T. Harrison) and Belgrando (C. Munce), which shifted in.

R. Myers, rider of Seeking More, which performed below market expectations, reported that the horse was very excitable in the enclosure prior to the race, did not show its customary speed in the early stages and raced flat.

A post race veterinary examination of Seeking More failed to reveal any significant abnormalities and a swab sample was taken.

Find out more about the winning trainer
Matt Dunn

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