BRC AUG01 - BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR LITTLE STRANGER

By Matthew Grimson | Monday, August 3, 2009

Doomben, August 1, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 4.5m.
Open Handicap - 1630m. Time: 1-36.90.
1st - Little Stranger; 2nd - Rags To Riches; 3rd - La Zeel.

The Michael Nolan trained Little Stranger is almost always competitive and when he gets things his way he is a hard horse to peg back - as he proved here.

The seven-year-old came into the race with credentials which underlined both his versatility and his toughness. In his previous two starts Little Stranger finished a game second to Jussemi in the Toowoomba Cup (over 2100m) and then went one better last week over 1625m when scoring the seventh win of his career.

Backing up a week later proved no problem at all for Little Stranger who settled well in fifth position down the back straight, racing on the rail just inside of the favourite Charming Rogue. Approaching the turn, jockey Bobby El Issa had to manoeuvre Little Stranger off the rail, where he was threatening to run up onto the heels of La Zeel. He then again had to wait a moment before angling even wider as the field straightened for home.

Once into clear galloping room, El-Issa wasted little time in sending Little Stranger about his business and the gelding’s response was good enough to ensure that he had his race won long before he crossed the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Bobby El-Issa: “He’s a nice little horse this bloke. He’s been in form. I’ve actually started doing a bit of riding for the Nolans. I hope it keeps coming. He is a good trainer Michael (Nolan) and he had the horse right for the day. He just got beat in the (Toowoomba) Cup. He had a good barrier today with no weight on his back and a good ride got him there.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Little Stranger): 6.00 steady.
Favourite (Charming Rogue): 2.60 in to 2.50 out to 2.60.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT
Bareena, which was injured in its float en route to the track, was declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at 1.55 pm. Zilzie (L. Rolls) was tightened for room shortly after the start between Kovak (S. Seamer) and Rightson (S. Katsidis), both of which shifted ground. Rags To Riches (M. Speers) and Charming Rogue (G. Colless) made contact near the 200m. Trainer A. Bailey reported that Charming Rogue would be sent for an immediate spell.