EF JUNE 1: GONDOKORO’S GROUP 1 ROMP

By Graham Potter | Monday, June 3, 2013

Eagle Farm, June 1, 2013.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 3.5m.
Queensland Oaks (Group 1) - 1400m.
Three-year-old fillies; Set weights; No class restriction.
1 Gondokoro; 2 Miss Zenella; 3 Vaquera; 4 Just As Cosmic.
Time: 2-32.17. Last 600: 36.40.
Margins: 2.80; 2.00.

Gondokoro is owned and bred by Wyadup Valley Farm (Mgr T J F Delroy). The filly is now a Group 1 winner with two wins from thirteen starts and stake earnings of $417 610.

DAVID FOWLER’S RACE WRAP:

“Gondokoro bolted in. It was a brilliant win.

“She had the Oaks won a fair way out. McLeod hit the ‘go’ button and she went whooska at the top of the straight and raced away … and wasn’t it a pearler of a ride by Rhys McLeod!

“He followed Dear Demi initially. Dear Demi then came one off the fence so McLeod made ground on the inside. He was able to weave a passage around the turn and into the straight. Got into the clear … and when she got into the clear she had a full head of steam and she burst away.

“Miss Zennella came after her gamely. She was the only threat to Gondkoro but, in the run to the line, it was all Gondokoro and she smashed her rivals proving to be by far the best stayer on the day.

“As has been said before, an argument could be made that she should have won The Roses (when going down to Dear Demi in a race which went into a protest hearing), but she has exacted revenge in no uncertain manner here.

“That’s only her second race win today … but it is a Group 1!”

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER PAT CAREY:

''The plan was always to come up here … she was fourth-up in the (Australian) Oaks … but I think the week she had at Yarraman Park on the way really help her. She has really come on up here.

“It was just a perfect ride from Rhys (McLeod). Rhys is a very low-rider rider … a low key person, but I’m sure if you ask any of his colleagues they’ll tell you what they think of him and that is that they rate him well … and he rode the horse perfectly today.

“I was very happy to see Dear Demi move off the fence. Rhys was able to get to where he wanted to be in the straight at the right time. That was the start of winning it.

“Whether she runs in the Derby next week is a decision I will talk about over the next couple of days with Trevor (Delroy). It’s not a given that she runs. It will all be about what she does over the next few days.

“What we decide will be the springboard to what she does next, so we want to make sure there is a filly there for the future.

“There is no guarantee she will have a spring preparation. We are already considering dedicating that time to further development for her and earmarking the autumn. All of those things are going to be sorted out over the next week.”

JOCKEY RHYS MCLEOD:

“I was very worried about the gate but she made it easy for me.

''I was on Dear Demi’s back for a long way. She took a position one off the fence. When the pace slowed up I crept up.

“She took the runs when they came and was going that well she was able to force one when she needed to on the turn.

''She is very strong at the end and once she got into the clear they weren't going to beat her.''

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Trainer C. Conners was fined $200 for the late change of blinkers to be added to the gear of DEAR DEMI.

KAZANLUK (K. McEvoy) and IRELAND'S TEARDROP (P. Robl) bumped on jumping away. SOAPY STAR (H. Bowman) shifted out at the start and bumped THE LAST SHOWER (E. Wilkinson), which in turn shifted out, resulting in MISS ZENELLA (L. Nolen) having to be checked when taken across the heels of PORCELLANUS (T. Clark).

Near the 1400m SOAPY STAR, when over-racing, had to be restrained from the heels of IRELAND'S TEARDROP (P. Robl). VAQUERA (M. Rodd), which was following, had to be steadied and shifted out. A short distance later, VAQUERA shifted back towards the rail and FANTISHA (T. Bell) had to be steadied.

Passing the 1000m, THE LAST SHOWER (E. Wilkinson) shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, which resulted in ANTARCTIC DREAM (B. Avdulla) becoming unbalanced when crowded for room on to the running rail.

Rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight, VAQUERA was held up when unable to obtain clear running.

IRELAND'S TEARDROP lost its near-hind plate in running.

R. McLeod, rider of GONDOKORO, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that near the 400m he shifted out, resulting in SOAPY STAR (H. Bowman) being taken out on to DEAR DEMI (N. Rawiller), which had to be checked when tightened for room between SOAPY STAR and IRELAND'S TEARDROP (P. Robl), and a short distance later SOAPY STAR being severely hampered. R. McLeod was suspended from riding in races for a period of 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 8 June and to expire at midnight 19 June.

R. McLeod, rider of GONDOKORO, was fined $300 for making celebratory gesture prior to the finish line.

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