IPSW OCT 13 - COUNTACH PREVAILS IN A NAIL-BITER

By Graham Potter | Friday, October 12, 2012

Ipswich, October 13, 2012.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - out 7.5m.
Class 1 Handicap (Colts, geldings and entires) - 1350m.
1 Countach; 2 Cervance; 3 Fouardeeson; 4 Final Impression.
Time: 1-22.30: Last 600: 36.65.
Margins: 0.10; 1.30.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Matthew Dunn: “He came to us halfway through his last preparation and he did alright. He won one race and then had two more runs after that before we put him out.

“We brought him back (after four months) and he is much stronger now.

“He was fair first-up over 1200m and He won well today over the 1350. He showed character by really sticking to his task under quite a lot of pressure in the closing stages. He simply refused to let the other one go past him.

“He’s another one that probably needs further now so we will be stepping him up next time.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The announcement of correct weight was delayed while B. Stewart (Caballo Rapido) viewed the stewards' patrol film to ascertain whether there were grounds to lodge an objection against Fouardeeson (S. Galloway), which finished 3rd. After viewing the film B. Stewart indicated he did not wish to proceed and correct weight was declared on the numbers semaphored.

The start was delayed when the combined blinkers and pacifiers on Cervance (R. Hurdle) broke. After consultation with trainer L. Gough, Cervance raced in blinkers only.

Caballo Rapido (B. Stewart) began awkwardly and lost ground. Countach (P. Hammersley) and Final Impression (J. Lloyd) bumped at the start. Cervance began awkwardly.

Eureka Dazzler (R. McMahon) raced wide in the early stages.

Countach over-raced at the heels of Sharma (M. Cahill) in the middle stages.

Quick Spender (L. Cassidy), Bennike (T. Harrison) and Cervance raced wide for the majority of the event.

Approaching the 200m Fouardeeson became momentarily held up on the heels of Final Impression, then shifted in to improve and in doing so tightened the running of Caballo Rapido, which had to be eased. S. Galloway (Fouardeeson) was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

J. Lloyd reported that Final Impression was inclined to hang out for the majority of the event and as a consequence he was obliged to stop riding and straighten Final Impression on a number of occasions in the straight.

When questioned as to the performance of Quick Spender, L. Cassidy stated that despite his efforts Quick Spender appeared under pressure approaching and rounding the home turn. Jockey Cassidy added that he therefore elected to shift to the inside where there was clear running at that point. L. Cassidy added that upon straightening the gelding began to respond to his riding and improved into the race, however at a point leaving the 100m was held up for clear running and over the final stage was untested. Jockey Cassidy was of the view that Quick Spender would appreciate racing over further distances.

Trainer K. Schweida stated that he would give consideration to spelling Quick Spender to allow the horse to mature. He agreed with jockey Cassidy's assessment that Quick Spender would be better suited over longer distances.

Find out more about the winning trainer
Matt Dunn

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