BRC JUL 18 - LA ZEEL BENEFITS FROM CHANGE OF GEAR

By Matthew Grimson | Monday, July 20, 2009

Eagle Farm, July 18, 2009.
1MW Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-36.27
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 7m.
1 La Zeel; 2 Yatala; 3 Iluva Queenslander.

A change of gear made the difference to the performance of the Les Kelly trained La Zeel and contributed to the mare’s success in the opening race of the day at Eagle Farm.

Inclined to over-race on occasions to her disadvantage, Kelly placed a tongue-tie and rings on the five-year-old mare and they worked a treat as La Zeel settled far better than in her last start. Still in the leading line, but running with cover, La Zeel was able to run her own race, keeping a kick in reserve which jockey Jim Byrne brought into play in the home straight with telling effect.

The short-priced favourite Yatala had every chance after being perfectly placed throughout, but La Zeel always had the measure of the younger filly in the chase to the line and she maintained a healthy advantage to score the seventh win of her career.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Les Kelly: “She’s beautifully bred. She’s won six races this season. Not many stayers do that, do they? I’ve had her for the twelve months now.

“She over-raced last start and we put the tongue tie and rings on her for the first time today to try and hold her back. We weren’t sure whether it would work, but we just thought we would try it. She’ll race on now. We might go down to Coffs Harbour for the Coffs Harbour Cup. I think that’s around August 4 over 1600m. She’s in open company now.

Jockey Jim Byrne: “She was basically the only leader in the race. She over-raced a fair bit the other day, and obviously today with there being no tempo, you know, there wasn’t so much urgency to try and get there too early with her. I just let her cruise into it herself and basically let her start running her sectionals sort of thing. She’s a bit of a free rolling horse and being by Zabeel you don’t want to pull her around too much. It worked out nice for her today.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (La Zeel): 7.00 out to 7.50.
Favourite (Yatala): 1.90 out to 2.05.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Barclays (J. Taylor) was slow to begin. Barclays over-raced in the middle stages. When questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of La Zeel as compared with its previous start trainer L. Kelly stated on that occasion, rider Ken Pope was forced to make use of the mare in the early stages from the wide gate in order to take up its customary leading position and the horse then over-raced for a major portion of the race and compounded over the concluding stages. L. Kelly added that the addition of rings to the gear of the horse and the fact that jockey J. Byrne did not have to make use of the mare in the early stages were contributing factors to the improved performance.