BRC AUG 01 - ALBERT THE FAT SIZZLES HOME

By Matthew Grimson | Sunday, August 2, 2009

Doomben, August 1, 2009.
Quality Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-09.15
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 4.5m.
1 Albert The Fat; 2 Forestreno; 3 Borsha’s Mark.

The Eden Petrie trained Albert The Fat further enhanced his already formidable reputation when he cruised home in convincing fashion at Doomben to make it two wins from two starts this prep.

The chestnut still had work to do when chasing wide into the straight, but the way he went about his business when asked to quicken by jockey Brad Pengelly left no doubt about his clear-cut superiority on the day and he stormed home to complete his ninth win from fifteen starts, in the process pushing his earnings past the $250000 mark.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Eden Petrie: “That win was enormous. I knew he would improve, but he has run 1-09.15 so it was a big effort. Look, I wanted to leave something up his sleeve, you know, in regard to going south ... ideally have him peaking at that stage. It’s all coming to plan nicely so far, touch wood. In September there’s the Theo Marks at Rosehill and I’ll let the horse tell me where we should go after that.

“I stay at Paul Messara’s probably - at Scone. I’ll keep him in the same environment. He’s been out there as long as me that horse. He wouldn’t settle at Randwick. He likes the country life. I spoke to Paul (Messara) the other day about it - so that’s the plan mate.

“That’s nine races now he’s won with the shades on, mate. I can’t change anything. Ideally ... maybe down the track, whether this prep or the next if he steps up to the mile, you know he won decisively over 1400m with the blinkers on so it is hard to change anything. It is just good to get in there today.

“Brad (Pengelly) has put in a bit of work with this horse. He’s been down home (at Canungra) and galloped him. Brad also rode him in the trail at the Gold Coast. Unfortunately Brad was suspended for the horse’s last run. Damian (Browne) rode him then. They both great riders. I think Damian Browne is probably one of the best I’ve seen, in my opinion. We made the commitment."

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “I’ve only ridden him in a trial. I went out to Canungra one morning and rode him for Eden (Petrie). I was supposed to ride him the other day but my good friend Damian Browne rode him and substituted really well. But in saying that, it was good to get on his back. He has the makings of a decent horse.

“I was following a decent horse in Forestrino and he did all the hard work or me. The race picked up its tempo from the 600m and that really helped him a lot. I just had to get him out and into the clear running up the straight and my horse really coped with that really well. He put the issue beyond doubt at the furlong. He looks really good when he lets down and that all stems from Eden’s work. He had a lot of pressure on him to run him in the Ramornie and things didn’t go quite his way leading up in his preparation so you know he had to sort of bypass that and go another way. He’s come through that really well and with a bit of luck he might be prominent down south somewhere.

“He’s got that raw ability and at the moment and he is doing it all by himself. You notice him walking in after the race there. His head was bowed. He is maturing all of the time and that’s what’s going to make him ... definitely.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Albert The Fat): 1.90 out to 2.25.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Denmarket, which broke through the barriers and was quickly restrained, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. Near the 800m, Tellasecret (C. Reith) and Nuclear Medicine (S. Thurlow) were severely crowded between Heart Of The Citi (M. Radecker) and Tornadic Sky (M. Hellyer), which shifted in. M. Hellyer, rider of Tornadic Sky, was advised to exercise more care. At the same stage, Sommersea Drive (M. Cahill), which was over-racing, had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Forestreno(J. Bowditch), which shifted in momentarily. Denmarket (A. Pattillo) and Ollie Vollie (S. Seamer) raced wide throughout.