GCST JAN 1 - BIGGLES SHOOTS DOWN THE OPPOSITION

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Gold Coast, January 1, 2013.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Goldmarket (Listed -Quality) - 1300m.
1st - Biggles; 2nd - Steel Zip; 3rd - Startsmeup; 4th - Cash ‘N' Style.
Time: 1-15.32. Last 600: 34.76.
Margins: 1.30; 0.50.

BIGGLES (4 ch g Jet Spur - Be Faithful)
Owners: R M Anderson, Mrs D Anderson, C Mawby & Mrs J P Mawby.
Trainer: Noel Doyle. Jockey: Tim Bell

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER NOEL DOYLE:

“Yeah, this is the third time I’ve won this race. I won it with Beau Zephyr in 1988 and Atlantic Crossing in 1995. Gary Doughty rode him. He led all the way.

“Biggles has been going really well. When he won the 1400 (Quality, at Eagle Farm on Nov 3) he led all the way. I stepped him up to the mile (twice) and he just got done both times (only beaten a long-head in the Brisbane Handicap and a half-head in the Recognition, both by Jet Style).

“They were very good runs.

“I thought, if I keep going with him … there was another mile race and then there was the Bernberough, which was run last Saturday … but I thought, if I keep going till then, I’m going to burn him out and I’d have nothing left for the Magic Millions.

“I was even thinking of going back down South for the Villiers, but I thought if I go all the way down there and get run over well then I’ve blown everything. Not that I think he would have got run over, but that’s beside the point.

“So I decided, no … I don’t need to go another mile with him. I’ll keep him. I’ll give him a breather. I thought I just let him freshen up nicely for about three weeks … or three-and-a-half weeks.

“I just gave him a trot and canter and a swim here and there and he was a happy horse.

“So we came here today for the 1300. He was always travelling nice and, by Jim, when he sees then coming he digs in deep for the fight. He just won’t give up.

“Timmy (Bell) said he was glad the grey horse (Steel Zip) came at him because he was starting to loaf … and he does do that. I was a bit worried when the grey horse came at him because I know what the grey horse can do, but my bloke was up to it.

“He can go into the Magic Mllions Cup in a week and a half’s time now.

“Will Tim (Bell) stay on board? I don’t think a crowbar would get him off!”

JOCKEY TIM BELL:

“Noel Doyle is just a fantastic trainer. If another trainer was to have this horse I don’t think they would get half as much out of him. It is just a great thrill to get success for Noel this time of year coming into the Magic Millions Carnival where I think there is going to be race to suit this horse.

“It was a good tough win. I was always confident coming around the turn. I did have to use him up a bit because I was a bit worried about Audacious Spirit getting a break on us, so I hit the button a little bit early.

“When he got to the front he sort of floated. He was waiting for another horse, so I was grateful when Brad Stewart came up beside me, although for a moment I did think he was going to run straight past me, but I knew the horse underneath me was a tough, little bugger and he would fight black and blue.

“I just gave him a couple around the bum and kicked him into top gear and he just sprinted away from them. It was a good, tough performance.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:

Winner (Biggles): 9.00 in to 8.00.
Favourite (Morning Captain): 3.00 out to 3.10 in to 2.80. Finished fifth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Delago Bolt (J. Byrne) was fractious in the barriers and slow to begin (2 lengths).

Near the 1200m Startsmeup (D. Browne) was inconvenienced when Steel Zip (B. Stewart) shifted in.

Approaching the 800m Startsmeup and Delago Bolt (J. Byrne) were forced to race in restricted room to the inside of Steel Zip. As a result Delago Bolt made contact with the running rail and became unbalanced for a short distance. B. Stewart the rider of Steel Zip was severely reprimanded and advised to provide sufficient racing room to the runners to his inside in future.

Startsmeup laid in under pressure over the final 200m.

Post race veterinary examinations of both Morning Captain and Audacious Spirit failed to reveal any abnormalities.

A post race veterinary examination of Delago Bolt revealed the gelding to be displaying a mucus discharge from both nostrils and also a slow post race recovery rate.

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