DOOM MAY 18: SCORE ONE FOR NEW ZEALAND AS PLATINUM KINGDOM RULES IN THE FRED BEST CLASSIC

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 20, 2013

DOOMBEN, MAY 18, 2013.

Track - Dead 4. Rail - 1.5m 900m - 375m. True Remainder.
Grinders Coffee FRED BEST CLASSIC (Group 3) - 1350m.
1 Platinum Kingdom; 2 Boban; 3 Academus; 4 Complicate.
Time: 1-19.81. Last 600: 36.18.
Margins: 0.80; 0.10.

DAVID FOWLER’S RACE WRAP:

“Platinum Kingdom was always in a winning position. Chimed in at the right time and drove clear.

“The time was 1-19.81 … 36.18 the sprint home. They went strongly early. They broke 44 for the first 750 (43.63) and Platinum Kingdom, who enjoyed a good run, was able to win his ninth race today.”

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER LISA LATTA:

“No, he’s not just a wet-tracker. He is versatile. He goes on all tracks. He’s just tough.

“He did appear to get through the wet going at Randwick on a Heavy 9 when he won two starts back, but at the 600 he was flat and Jonathan (Riddell) actually thought he wasn’t going that good. He just came back under him after that and went on to get the result.

“He’ll go to the Queensland Guineas and then he may get one more after that … a week after … if he is still thriving.”

JOCKEY JONATHAN RIDDELL:

“I think he had a little bit more left. He is tough horse and if something comes to him he’ll go again.

“Yeah, his wet tracker rating only told half the story. I suppose if you come over to Australia and have your first start on a wet track and win on a wet track you can sort of get labelled but, if you look at his firm back home, most of it was on the better going.

“He is just improving as well this horse … his attitude and everything. He’s well-travelled and he is so tough. You could probably take him to war if you were going.

“He’s blessed with great gate speed and, one thing to his credit, he does relax in the race.

“Today, as I said, he’s showed electric gate speed. When you are riding a horse like that it makes your job a bit easier. He got up there without doing too much.

“At the 600, he got on the bridle a little bit, but maybe he was a little bit fresh.

“The 1400m of the Guineas will be ideal for him.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:

Winner (Platinum Kingdom): 13.00 to 15.00.
Favourite (Academus): 3.80 in to 3.50. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

When asked about the seemingly disappointing performance of AL ANEED, L. Cassidy stated that the horse raced too strongly through the middle stages and, as a result was not able to finish the race off. It was his opinion that the horse would be better suited over 1200m.

SALUTER (D. Browne) over-raced in the middle stages.

Near the 700m, PLATINUM KINGDOM (J. Riddell), when over-racing, shifted out from the heels of DANCES ON STARS (M. Walker), which resulted in SALUTER (D. Browne), which was following, being tightened for room between PLATINUM KINGDOM and AL ANEED (L. Cassidy).

BOBAN (L. Innes) was unable to secure clear running in the home straight until near the 150m.

LILLIBRULERO (T. Bell), EXIMIUS (B. Rawiller) and AL ANEED (L. Cassidy) raced wide for the majority of the race.

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