SCTC JUL 19 - PERTINENCE STRIKES BACK

By Graham Potter | Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sunshine Coast, July 19, 2009.
Open Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-24.88.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 5m.
1 Pertinence; 2 Southerly Impact; 3 Riseupsinging.

Like with so many other runners, a rash of heavy tracks in recent times haven’t played to the strengths of the Troy Hall trained Pertinence. Like with many other runners, a better track this time around brought a better result for the four-year-old mare.

Jockey Stathi Katsidis had Pertinence racing untroubled in the box seat, two lengths off the leader Southerly Impact, until straightening. Pertinence moved forward to challenge at the head of the straight, but Southerly Impact kicked on strongly. This duo moved away from the balance of the field with Southerly Impact maintaining a strong gallop as he tried to hold on to his advantage in determined fashion.

The weight turnover between the two runners (4kg in favour of Pertinence) became the critical factor in a long chase, which lasted the length of the straight, as Pertinence found something extra in the final 50m, after the game Southerly Impact had given his all, to edge clear to claim victory.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall: “Two runs back (when finishing third, a half-neck behind Sleek Repeat) ... it was a terrific run on the heavy going. She is a better horse on the dry. She kept on running into wet track after wet track and we gave her a bit of a blow after she had three runs on heavy tracks and thought well, we’ll just try and find a dry track for her. Luckily enough, it didn’t rain this week so we got it in our favour with a top jock on board. I’ve always stuck by Stathi (Katsidis) because he is such a great jockey. When he is hot, he is hot!”

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “It was a really good, tough win ... had no weight on its back. I felt sorry for the other horse (Southerly Impact). It had 58kg. He had a very soft speed and had every chance, but she is just tough and she deserved that win. She has been racing well without winning.”

So is there a chink in the Katsidis armour? A soft spot perhaps? Does he really have sympathy and feel sorry for the opposition?

Katsidis: “No, only a little bit sometimes. Never enough to change the result.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pertinence): 2.90 out to 3.20.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Cap Riviera (J. Piper) was slow to begin. Proudly Aggro (G. Baker) and Southerly Impact (G. Geran) made contact on jumping away. Near the 700m, Cap Riviera (J. Piper) shifted in and brushed the running rail on two occasions. Noreil (R. Wiggins) and Dispurser (B. Swanton) came together and brushed on two occasions over the final 100m. Noreil (R. Wiggins), Fortunatus Fidelis (M. Morris) and Neveda Gambler (J. Kropp) raced wide for the majority of the event.