EF MAY 11: QUINTESSENTIAL SHINES IN THE MUD

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 13, 2013

EAGLE FARM, MAY 11, 2013.

Track - Heavy 9.. Rail - True.
Landfill Logistics Chairman’s Handicap (Group 3) - 2100m.
1 Quintessential; 2 Rothera; 3 Sysmo; 4 Topping.
Time: 2-15.41. Last 600: 36.57.
Margins: 0.50; 1.00.

DAVID FOWLER’S RACE WRAP:

“Quintessential … ridden forward. She revelled in the conditions.

“Of course she was last year Oaks winner and she ran a great race in the Derby too when second behind Brambles. She shines in the Winter time. That is her first win since last year’s Queensland Oaks.

“Quintessential was a drifter in the betting but Damian Browne obviously had a plan in mind. He went forward early. Always travelled strongly up near the lead and there was a good kick there in the straight.

“Rothera eats mud for breakfast. Even though he was second-up today the conditions suited him. He ran the race of his life to finish second.

“Certainly the track was heavy now. You could see heading for home the mud was flying.”

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER JOHN SARGENT:

“Damian (Browne) used to ride for us when I was back in New Zealand and he was back there about twelve years ago … and the association has just carried on.

“He is a fantastic rider, you know. You would put him on in a Melbourne Cup. He is very good on stayers especially, I think.

“Earlier in the day we were going to go back with Quintessential, but now with the wet track you’ve got to be up there on the speed.

“She’ll take improvement out of that. She made a thirteen hour trip over on Thursday night. She left a bit of feed, but that will improve her a bit.

“If all is well we’ll probably go to one of the 2400 races, I think. That’s her pet distance. Today was a bit like that.

“Doomben Cup is probably a bit too close next week, especially after the hard trip.

“She’ll just walk the next few days and we’ll see how she goes, but it’s lovely to be here!”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:

Winner (Quintessential): 4.80 out to 7.00
Favourite (Margins):4.00 steady. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed when Carrick (L. Innes), which became fractious in the barriers, was removed, examined by the veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start.

I Gotta Feeling (C. Munce) was crowded for room at the start between Gold Cape (M. Hellyer) and Dazzle Us (T. Harrison), which shifted in.

After passing the winning post on the first occasion Gold Cape (M. Hellyer) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Margins (T. Bell), which shifted in.

Quintessential (D. Browne) raced wide in the early stages before being ridden forward to obtain the position outside of the leader near the 1600m.

Dazzle Us and Carrick raced three wide throughout.

Near the 700m Margins shifted out around heels and made contact with Shenzhou Steeds (E. Wilkinson).

Near the 600m Poste Restante (M. Cahill) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Sysmo (G. Colless), which was taken in by Margins, which was also dictated in by Shenzhou Steeds, which was taken in slightly by Dazzle Us. Apprentice T. Harrison (Dazzle Us) was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

After passing the 200m Margins had to be eased when tightened for room between Dazzle Us and Rothera (R. McMahon), which shifted out to improve. R. McMahon was reprimanded.

Trainer B. Smith advised stewards that Dolly Dolly (R. Wiggins) would now be sent for a spell.

A post-race veterinary examination of Margins revealed no abnormalities.

Following the running of this event the track was further downgraded to Heavy 9 retrospective.

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