GCST JAN 12 - SHAMROCK SLIPPER SLIDES HOME

By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 12, 2013

Gold Coast, January 12, 2013.
Track - Good 3; Rail - out 0.50m (entire circuit).
Magic Millions Open Quality Sprint - 1000m
1st - Shamrock Slipper; 2nd - Bella Rossie; 3rd - Rocket To Glory; 4th - Doubtful Jack.
Time: 56.76. Last 600: 33.90.
Margins: 1.30; 0.30.

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER LIAM BIRCHLEY:

“She is a gutsy little filly and the race set up beautifully for her.

“I really wasn’t that confident about her chances today. Just coming out of restricted grade it was a bit of a step up. Like I said she is only a little filly, but she tries really, really hard. I wish a few of the others in my stable would try as hard as she does.

“I’m just glad that the owner came up for the sales and I’m pleased he had a bit of joy because it was his idea to run her here today. It was his call.

“I’m not certain where we’ll go from here. Being a bit on the small side she is a bit hard to place, so I’ll have to sit down and have a good look at what options might be available for her.

“She might get just a tad further than she did today. She hasn’t to date, but she might be able to stretch to 1100.

“Yes, I was a bit worried about how the track was going to play today. It is a touch firm but I have to say the pattern is ok. They seem to be able to come from anywhere … and that is half the battle.”

JOCKEY LARRY CASSIDY:

“Obviously I drew well and she began good and so I ended up in a good spot.

“Then we just floated for about a furlong … she was just going along … jut carrying herself. When I got to about the 550 she picked the bit up and I thought, gee how good is this. I thought, jeez I’m going good here.

“I was slowly coming across them and I got across to the outside. I thought I had three lengths to come … that’s how good I was going. When I asked her she gave me three lengths right away and, all of a sudden, I’d got there too soon.

“She stuck it out all the way to the line. She is a nice little filly.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Number One Gun reared in the barriers and got both fore legs momentarily caught in the front gates. Number One Gun was removed, examined by the veterinary surgeon and was subsequently withdrawn by order of stewards at 2.08 pm.
Trainer J. O'Shea was advised that a warning would be placed on Number One Gun for its barrier manners. When considering the matter stewards took into account the previously unblemished record of the gelding.

Trainer G. Portelli was advised that a warning would be placed on Bella Rossie after the mare proved difficult to load.

Bella Rossie (C. Reith) and Rocket To Glory (G. Colless) were both held up and unable to obtain clear running in the home straight until near the 200m.