BRC AUG 08 - CRACKERJACK FORTUNE STEALS THE SHOW

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 11, 2009

When the 41-1 outsider Crackerjack Fortune held on just long enough to thwart the late charge of the 3.70 favourite Mazuka by a narrow margin, the debate on the outcome went right back to the start of the race.

When the stall gates opened it appeared to the naked eye that Crackerjack Fortune had come out early and gained an unfair advantage. That he landed clear of his opposition was not in doubt ... but had the start been a fair one?

The Stewards ruled it a fair start and declared correct weight. But Chief Steward Wade Birch did not leave the matter there. Aware of the perception that the public would gain from viewing the side-on film - where Crackerjack Fortune’s flying start was clearly evident - Birch allowed the head-on film of the start the be played over several times on the monitors at the track, so that everybody could understand how the Stewards arrived at their decision.

As it turned out, the eye does play tricks. Your vision naturally follows the main movement which, in this case, was Crackerjack Fortunes impressive start. When you shut that out though, and focus specifically only on the starting stalls, it is clear that all of the gates open in unison and therefore there was no false start.

It is not often that Stewards and jockey Bobby El-Issa agree on any issue. This time they did.

Just how El-Issa and Crackerjack Fortune managed to achieve their flying getaway is less clear. If they knew that formula they could patent it and sell it!

But, for all that, the fact remains that, after the start, there was still 999m of battle left to be decided and Crackerjack Fortune must take full credit for the way he way he went about maintaining his advantage. Rated superbly in front by El-Issa, Crackerjack Fortune kicked on strongly early in the straight and, although they were coming at him from all sides and closing up fast in the final stages, Crackerjack Fortune still had his head out in front on the line to complete a much talked about victory.

Eagle Farm, Saturday, August 8, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
No Metro Wins Handicap - 1000m. Time: 57.71.
1st - Crackajack Fortune; 2nd - Mazuka; 3rd - Hyde Park.

STEWARDS FEEDBACK:
Chief Steward Wade Birch: “There were some feeling and appeals were made that Crackerjack Fortune got the best of the start and actually started prematurely to the rest of the field. I was contacted by the starter shortly after the start and he just asked me to check to see if the horse had gained an unfair advantage.

“We did so. We looked at the head-on film and it is evident there that the gates actually opened in unison, but Crackerjack Fortune has anticipated the start and started better than any other horse. He certainly timed his leap to perfection. He sat down on the back gate and was on his way forward when the start was effected so he has probably begun a length better than any other runner. In the lateral film it appears like he’s got a flyer. The head-on footage (which was shown to the public) will certainly lay that opinion to rest.”

Score one for the Stewards. It was good to see transparency in action.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bob Sutton: “He is pretty smart out of the barriers, but we were a bit concerned that if the speed was on, you know, that he might not finish off. But he hit the line well and we’ll try him over a bit more ground now, hey.”

Jockey Bobby El-Issa: “I thought he was probably about a 10-1, 12-1 chance mate ... not the odds he paid ($41). He is a horse that, as soon as he anticipates the start, he lands a length in front of those horses and here ... the way the track is ... I think it is a bit softer than good, I just came out in the straight and I knew he was never going to get beat. I scouted a bit wide because I think the track is three or four lengths ... say, two or three lengths slower one to three off the fence so, yeah, he appreciated coming down the middle.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Crackerjack Fortune): 26.00 out to 41.00.
Favourite (Mazuka): 4.00 in to 3.60 out to 3.70.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As M. Radecker failed to arrive on course on time, A. Pattillo was permitted to ride Casa Cardoso half a kilogram over the declared weight when no other rider was available to ride at the weight.

Immediately after the start Mr Bill Shuck, the Club starter, contacted the Chairman of Stewards as he thought there was a chance, albeit a slight one, that Crackajack Fortune may have sprung its gate prior to him officially releasing the field. In accordance with AR. 8(f), which requires the stewards to determine all questions which might arise at a race meeting, and the question had been asked in relation to the start by Mr Shuck, before the declaration of correct weight the stewards viewed all available video films in an endeavour to satisfy themselves that the start was fairly effected. They were satisfied on the evidence available that Crackajack Fortune had bounded forward just as the gates were opened by the starter. Accordingly correct weight was declared.

On jumping Overanxious was checked when crowded for room between Hyde Park, which shifted in, and Our Voltage, which shifted out. On jumping away Slugsbrothernugget was crowded for room between Arhondas, which shifted in abruptly, and Hyde Park. Near the 100m Baqaba shifted out in an endeavour to improve its position and in doing so made heavy contact with the tiring Red Rae.

B. El-Issa (Crackerjack Fortune) stated that he had not been given any specific instructions but the trainer did tell him the horse has some speed. He said that when Crackerjack Fortune left the gates so cleanly he had no hesitation in allowing it to run along in front.

A post-race veterinary examination of Suntanned, which finished a distant last, revealed that the gelding was sore in the near-hind leg. Before the horse can race again a veterinary certificate of fitness will have to be produced.