THE ROCKY RECORD: ROCKHAMPTON AUGUST 1

By Graham Potter | Thursday, August 1, 2013

As one racing season flowed seamlessly into the next with a simply flip of a calendar page Rockhampton got the 2013/14 Queensland season underway with a seven race meeting under blue skies on a Good 3 track. (That’s right … for those reading this in South East Queensland, a Good 3 rated track does still exist).

Adrian Coombe, who has held the region’s Jockeys’ Premiership title for the past four seasons, was the standout in the saddle bringing home a treble on the day. Two of Coombe’s winners, Stay The Night ($5 starting price … $6.20 on the tote) and Sindibad ($4.60 starting price and $4.80 on the tote), were reasonable value bets while Coombe’s remaining winner Motorised was a $2 favourite, one of three main fancies to win on the day.

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RESULTS AND STEWARDS REPORT:

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Race 1: QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden – 1200m
1st DYNA ROSE; 2nd Vast Element; 3rd Slick Getaway; 4th - Next Minute.

DYNA ROSE (3 b f Hidden Dragon – Our Dynamo).
Owners: R F Beak and Mrs V G J Beak.
Trainer: Garnett Taylor. Jockey: Bobby El-Issa.
Dyna Rose was a $23 000 purchase at the 2012 MM QTIS Yealing Sale.
The filly has now earned $6 500 in two starts.

Won at second time of asking after finishing well back over 1000m on the Cushion Track at Toowoomba on debut. Extra ground suited as she arrived courtesy of a sustained run and a positive final flourish which saw her get home in the last stride by the narrowest of margins.

Did well to get there after not having the easiest of passages, having been involved in a bumping match with Cheval for much of the opening 100m and then, following that interaction, being forced to race wide for the much of the race.

Second placed Vast Element did nothing wrong. He controlled things well enough from the front and had the race won everywhere except at the line. Third place Slick Getaway, who was on debut, tracked the leader throughout. He raced very green when shifting out to try and challenge for the lead some 450m out. While he could not find enough to close the gap, he held his ground for most of the run home before tiring late.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

The start was delayed when EBONY ECHO (App.S.Fawke) reared in the barriers. The gelding was removed from the barriers, examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to take its place in the field. The start was further delayed when CRAIGLEA PINTARA (App. A. Taylor) backed out of the barrier stall.

At the start VAST ELEMENT (L. Dillon) shifted out onto NEXT MINUTE (A. Coome). CHEVAL (C. Pye) began awkwardly and raced wide throughout.

Near the 250 metres the whip of App. Taylor became entangled in the mane of CRAIGLEA PINTARA.

A post-race veterinary examination of CHEVAL revealed that the gelding was lame in the near-foreleg. Trainer V. Vagg will be advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance prior to CHEVAL being permitted to race again.

Jockey B. El-Issa was reprimanded under A.R. 137A(5) for using his whip on DYNA ROSE on more than five occasions in a forehand manner prior to the 100 metres and fined $100 for use in three consecutive strides.

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Race 2: Maiden Handicap (C, G & E) – 970m.
1st SCHOONER ROCK; 2nd Minardi Magic; 3rd Triple Century; 4th - Space Jam.

SCHOONER ROCK (4 b g Bagger Vance – Regal Megan).
Owners: Mrs K J Lehmann & M C Lehmann.
Trainer: Mark Lehmann. Jockey: Dale Evans.
Schooner Rock’s debut win was worth $6 500.

A fair training feat this to have a four-year-old come out on debut and win … and win well! It is, of course, a case of ‘who did he beat?’ But, while this was a poor field, the way Schooner Rock set about his business was full of merit.

He was positioned fourth than fifth in the chase from the start to the turn into the home straight where entered the long straight some six lengths off the lead. He immediately started to make good ground along the inside, having no problem racing right in amongst horses in spite of his inexperience. He then angled out for a run right on cue and never missed a beat when taking the split between Copy This and King Pem with 200m left to run.

But Schooner Rock still had to get to the long-time leader Triple Century. Another subtle switch of angle and he lengthened again to rapidly close the gap and he duly got up to complete a debut win with a couple of strides to spare.

Second placed Minardi Magic looked to be doing no better than marking time for the first half of the straight but, after being slightly inconvenienced approaching the 200m mark, he suddenly fund his feet and charged home to run Triple Century out of second placing.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

When Jockey J. Stephens was unable to arrive on course by the prescribed time, for personal reasons, Jockey D. Hayse was substituted as the rider of TRIPLE CENTURY.

KING PEM (A. Coome) began awkwardly and lost some ground, then was inclined to lay out from the 800 metres until straightening.

On jumping, MINARDI MAGIC (T. O'Hara) and SCHOONER ROCK (D. Evans) made contact.

Shortly after the start SOMEPLACE (C. Pye) laid out, then raced wide throughout.

Near the 200 metres KING PEM shifted out and at the same time SOMEPLACE shifted out and away, taking MINARDI MAGIC wider on the track.

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Race 3: Maiden Handicap (F & M) – 970m.
1st GIRLS WORLD; 2nd My Monica; 3rd Cherry Brandy; 4th Tuning.

GIRLS WORLD (3 b f Wonderful World – Goniwiggal).
Owners: Mrs L F Huddy and Mrs D R Ballard
Trainer: Col Williamson. Jockey: Ricky Johnson-Bell.
Girls World has now earned $8 500 from two starts.

Girls World looked the pick here after her close-up second placing on debut at Ipswich two weeks earlier and she duly obliged with a no-nonsense victory.

Girls World jumped straight into the lead but was quickly joined along the inside by Tuning who continued to annoy the favourite until approaching the 400m where young Ricky Johnstone-Bell, who was the only apprentice to win a race on the day, asked the favourite to increase her effort and the filly soon opened up a winning gap.

Johnstone-Bell continued to educate his mount by keeping Girl’s World honest all the way the line even though the result was never in doubt.

My Monica did best of the rest without ever threatening the winner.

STEWARDS REPORT:

There were no racing incidents.

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Race 4: BM 70 Handicap – 1100m.

1st STAY THE NIGHT; 2nd Guilietta; 3rd Bonny The Viper; 4th - Precious Lilly.

STAY THE NIGHT (5 ch g Afleetaffair – Enchanted Magic).
Owners: J A Millroy and Mrs L K Millroy
Trainer: Allan Jenkinson. Jockey: Adrian Coombe.
Stay The Night is now a four-time winner from nine starts with $24 250 in stake earnings.

The first leg of the Adrian Coombe treble came via a patient ride on a willing horse.

Stay The Night settled just off the speed. He then tracked Princely (the $3.50 favourite) into the race and he was only two lengths off the action and poised to strike when Princely moved into the lead with 200m left to run.

Stay the Night did not accelerate immediately but did slowly start to gather momentum. By the time he was in full cry Princely was already a spent force drifting around in front of him and Stay The Night had little difficulty in going past that one, but there was still work to do as Guilieta arrived while Bonny The Viper, who had set the early gallop, tried to kick back on the rail.

Ultimately Bonny The Viper couldn’t find enough and Guilieta’s run was interrupted as she laid in behind Stay The Night, who was also shifting out, over the concluding stages.

In essence the winner was always going to be just too strong when it mattered most.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

Shortly after the start ENDLESS TOWER (J. P. Stanley) and PRINCELY (C. Pye) bumped. GUILLIETTA (T. O'Hara) was a little slow to begin.

Near the 700 metres PRINCELY, which was over-racing, improved onto the heels of BONNY THE VIPER (B. El-Issa) and shifted out, taking STAY THE NIGHT (A. Coome) wider on the track.

Over the concluding stages STAY THE NIGHT shifted out under pressure. At that stage GUILIETTA, which was laying in, became awkward on the heels of STAY THE NIGHT.

KANSKJE (App. K. Gates) raced wide throughout.

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Race 5: Open Handicap – 1400m.
1st MOTORISED; 2nd Maroon Bells; 3rd Schrapnel Gully; 4th Klitschko.

MOTORISED (5 b g Flying Spur – True Blonde).
Owners: P W E Paterson, M Ison & F E Smith.
Trainer: Fred E Smith. Jockey: Adrian Coombe.

Motorised’s winning margin of 4.80 lengths was the biggest of the day.
Motorised is a six-time winner from twenty-one starts having earned $90 420.
Motorised was originally purchased by Corstens/Sadler racing for $310 000. It had seventeen starts in three preparations for the John Sadler stable and one start for trainer Stephen Brown. Since changing stables and moving north Motorised three of his five starts.

The is no doubt that the withdrawal of well-performed Moicheia at the start made Motorised’s task all much easier but the five-year-old still had to go out and win his race and he did that with some aplomb.

Hard-held just off the speed for the first 1000m, Motorised was always going comfortably as he allowed Schrapnel Gully to set the early target up front.

Still third on the rail at the top of the long straight Motorised was perfectly poised to strike. Coming through the 600m mark, Coombe seemed to briefly consider getting Motorised off the rail but, when he was held in by the then second placed Cannyclimb, Coombe quickly elected to stick with the shortest way home.

Motorised was in no rush to get to the front, but he did start to make steady ground on Schrapnel Gully now. Once inside the 400m mark Coombe got to work on his mount and the response was immediate. Motorised lengthened his stride and he had already reached the lead before the 200m, from which stage the race simple became a procession … Motorised in absolute command with others scrambling for the leftovers.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

When Jockey J. P. Stanley was to be overweight, Jockey D. Hayse was substituted as the rider of KLITSCHKO. Jockey Stanley was fined a total of $100 under A.R. 120(b) for this breach and for a similar breach in Race 6 when he was overweight and unable to ride EMOTIONALLY YOURS. In assessing penalty stewards took into account Jockey Stanley's exemplary record in regard to being overweight.

Upon arriving behind the barriers the Club's veterinary surgeon expressed her concern in regard to MAROON BELLS (T. O'Hara) and MOICHEIA (D. Evans). Both horses were examined by the veterinary surgeon. MAROON BELLS was cleared to take its place in the field. The veterinary surgeon reported to stewards that MOICHEIA was mildly lame in the near-foreleg and was not satisfied to permit the gelding to start in the event.

Acting on this advice, stewards declared MOICHEIA a late scratching at 3.13 p.m.

DANCEFLOOR PRODIGY (B. El-Issa) was slow to begin.

In the early and middle stages PROSPECTOR BOB (App. A. Taylor) raced wide.

Approaching the 900 metres MOTORISED (A. Coome) became momentarily awkward and unbalanced when racing tight to the inside of PROSPECTOR BOB.

Near the 500 metres MAROON BELLS shifted out slightly and bumped PROSPECTOR BOB, which was taken outwards. In the incident KLITSCHKO (D. Hayse) was momentarily held up on the heels of PROSPECTOR BOB.

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Race 6: Class 1 Handicap – 1100m.
1st SINDIBAD; 2nd Royal Fusilier; 3rd Big Bert; 4th - Bush Gem.

SINDIBAD (5 b g Stravinsky – Don’t Say Halo).
Owner: D W Gardiner.
Trainer: Darryl Gardiner. Jockey: Adrian Coombe.
Sindibad is a three-time winner from twenty-eight starts $29 250 in stake earnings.

Adrian Coombe’s completed a treble aboard Sindibad, a horse on which he had won on a Gladstone two runs back.

It was another patient ride with a plan perfectly executed as Sindibad settled in a comfortable fifth position one off the rail until angling out into clear running on the sweep to the turn to straighten four wide, some three to four lengths off the leader.

The first task from there was to run down the leader Max’s Girl. That task was duly accomplished in a solid if unspectacular fashion with 180m left to run. Royal Fusilier did threaten briefly in-between runners, but the race was already safely in Sindibad’s keeping if he maintained his effort to the line and he did that well enough to score by a decisive 1.80 length margin.

Royal Fusilier’s jockey Bobby El-Issa did have a look at the film to see if he had grounds for a protest against the winner but that was always going to be an optimistic hope and it came as no surprise when El-Issa decided against taking any further action.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

When Jockey J. P. Stanley was to be overweight, Jockey D. Evans was substituted as the rider of EMOTIONALLY YOURS.

Stewards permitted trainer M. Pearson to add a tongue-tie to the approved gear to be carried by LORD LUGZEE. Mr Pearson was fined $200 under AR 140B (3) for the late notification of the gear change.

LICK 'EM LOLLY (C. Pye) appeared to resent the tongue-tie during its preliminary and was reluctant to proceed to the start. Stewards permitted the tongue-tie to be removed at the request of the rider and public announcements were made to that effect.

The declaration of correct weight was delayed to allow Jockey B. El-Issa to see the head-on patrol film with a view to lodging an objection against SINDIBAD being declared the winner. Having done so, Jockey El-Issa elected not to lodge a protest and stewards declared correct weight on the judge's numbers.

BIG BERT (D. Hayse) and MISS ANITORES (App. K. Gates) began awkwardly. BUSH GEM (App. S. Fawke) and EMOTIONALLY YOURS were slow to begin. At the start PRETTY POLLYANNA (App. A. Taylor) faltered.

Near the 900 metres BIG BERT (D. Hayse) raced in restricted room to the inside of SINDIBAD (A. Coome)and was steadied. NORSTROEM (App. K. Gates), which was following, was also steadied in the incident.

Near the 700 metres BIG BERT, which was racing ungenerously, shifted in and brushed the running rail.

Near the 200 metres MAX'S GIRL rolled out, taking ROYAL FUSILIER (B. El-Issa) outwards. At the same time SINDIBAD rolled in and hampered ROYAL FUSILIER.

PRETTY POLLYANNA and MISS ANITORES (App. K. Grace) raced wide throughout.

App. A. Allen reported that at about the 800 metres the saddle on MAX'S GIRL shifted.

Stewards questioned Jockey B. El-Issa in regard to his vigour on ROYAL FUSILIER over the concluding stages. Jockey El-Issa was reminded of his obligation to ride his mounts out right to the finish.

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Race 7: Class 3 Plate – 1300m.
1st DORF RILEY; 2nd Edgeroi Dixie; 3rd Hold That Thought; 4th - Blazing Lion.

DORF RILEY (5 b g Strategic – Jennacomm).
Owner: A Burgoyne.
Trainer: Tony Burgoyne. Jockey: John Stephens.
Dorf Riley was winning for the fourth time from twenty-one starts and he took his stake earnings to $47 950.

Those who followed the favourite in the ‘Get out stakes’ were happy to see Dorf Riley go to the line with more than two lengths to spare in the finish.

Beautifully position in fourth place on the rail for much of the running, the only minor hassle that Dorf Riley had was when he had to bully his way out into clear running with 250m left to run, but he had both the muscle and the determination to do that well enough to put himself into a winning position.

His outright ability then took over in the final 200m as he pulled himself into a clear lead and stretched his advantage all the way to the line to complete a comprehensive victory.

Credit Edgeroi Dixie for sticking to her task. While she was ultimately no match for the winner she was rewarded with second placing finishing comfortably clear of the chasing pack.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

After arriving on course it was suspected that DUNCAN had sustained an injury to its head whilst being transported to the course and had blood in its nearside nostril. The gelding was inspected by the Club's veterinary surgeon, who observed that blood continued to be present in the near side nostril. Stewards ordered the late scratching of DUNCAN at 2.48 p.m. A pre-race blood sample was taken from the gelding.

WESTERN YORK (App. K. Gates), LA LUNE DE MIEL (S. McCullum) and RED SAVANNAH (D. Evans) were slow to begin. ADALFE (App. K. Grace) began awkwardly. RISHONA (B. El-Issa) knuckled on jumping.

ADALFE raced wide throughout.

Approaching the 900 metres WESTERN YORK (App. K. Gates) was steadied from the heels of RISHONA, shifted out and made contact with ADALFE.

At the 400 metres DORF RILEY (J. Stephens) shifted out from the heels of NORDIC WARRIOR (App.S. McGovern), resulting in EDGEROI DIXIE (A. Coome) being taken out onto BLAZING LION (App. A. Taylor), which became unbalanced.

A post-race veterinary examination of ADALFE revealed that the gelding had bled from both nostrils. As this was the first time the gelding had bled, ADALFE will be barred from racing for 3 months and then only after a satisfactory gallop of at least 1000 metres in the presence of a steward, in accordance with A.R. 53A.

Jockey B. El-Issa, the rider of RISHONA, dropped his whip near the 150 metres.

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HOW THEY STAND:
2013/14 Season Jockey’s standings (number of rides, name. first, second, third).

7 Adrian Coombe 3-2-0
6 B El-Issa 1-2-1
2 R Johnstone-Bell 1-0-1
3 Dale Evans 1-0-0
2 John Stephens 1-0-0
4 Tracy O‘Hara 0-3-0
3 L Dillon 0-1-0
6 David Hayse 0-0-2
4 Justin Stanley 0-0-2
6 Carly Mae-Pye 0-0-1
3 Anthony Allen 0-0-0
3 Sairyn Fawke 0-0-0
4 Kelly Gates 0-0-0
2 Cody Grace 0-0-0
1 Alexandra Kitson 0-0-0
1 Scott McCullum 0-0-0
1 Shane McGovern 0-0-0
6 Alicia Taylor 0-0-0

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