SCTC JUL 19 - RAZZLED DAZZLES

By Graham Potter | Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sunshine Coast, July 19, 2009.
Class 1 Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-38.99.
Sunshine Coast, July 19, 2009.
1st - Razzled; 2nd - Weekend Shopper; 3rd - Saturn Five.

Trainer Bruce Hill completed race-to-race wins (after Grungle’s success one race earlier) when Razzled completely outclassed his opposition.

Jockey Stathi Katsidis positioned the three-year-old comfortable in midfield for much of the running. Approaching the turn, the chestnut was going so well he had to be hard held as he threatened to run up onto the heels of the runners in front of him. That gave Katsidis his only dilemma in the race, but he quickly weighed up his options on straightening. He took Razzled back to the inside, gave the gelding his head and Razzled charged home, turning the race into a ‘no contest’ long before he crossed the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Hill: “He had those Cushion Track runs because of the state of the tracks. He doesn’t like it too wet. He is alright in the dead or just a bit off, but when it is real heavy he is just no good. He is just crying out for a bit of ground too, you know ... a mile, a mile-and-a-quarter, he’ll really come into his own.”

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “Yeah, look, a very good win. He night even get further. He relaxed really good. I was impressed by his turn of foot. Like he really sprinted away and that’s why he won by three lengths.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Razzled): 2.60 out to 4.20.
Favourite (Timecall): 2.50 out to 3.20. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Fleet Affair (J. Kropp) began awkwardly, resulting in the horse losing valuable ground. Weekend Shopper (O. Turpin) was held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Leaving the 400m, Real World (M. Morris) shifted out to improve and in doing so brushed Timecall (K. Pope). Leaving the 300m, Golden Glimpse (M. Radecker) and Branch Stacker (J. Byrne) came together and brushed. Saturn Five (S. Kennedy) was inclined to shift out under pressure over the final 250m. Golden Glimpse (M. Radecker) was caught wide and raced wide for the majority of the event.

When questioned J. Byrne was at a loss to explain the disappointing performance of Branch Stacker. He stated that after obtaining a forward position, the gelding was under pressure from leaving the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination of Branch Stacker failed to reveal any significant abnormalities at the time of examination.

A post-race veterinary examination of Smartness revealed the mare to be lame in both forelegs. Trainer W. Lawson was advised he must provide a veterinary certificate of fitness for the mare prior to its next race start.