DOOM AUG 15 - BAQABA TAKES THE NEXT STEP

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Steve Tregea trained Baqaba passed two tests in resounding fashion when he scored his third win from only four starts at Doomben. He showed he was good enough to win in town and he confirmed the 1350m trip was well within his range.

Stepped up in distance and jumping from a bad barrier in a big field meant the lightly raced four-year-old would have plenty to overcome, but he proved equal to the task under a high quality ride from Larry Cassidy.

Taken back from the draw, Baqaba was still well out of his ground when the field turned for home. Cassidy switched the gelding out to be the widest runner on the track. While this move might have further tested Baqaba’s ability to run out the distance, it did at least allow the inexperienced runner the chance to run his own race, untroubled by any traffic problems.

Baqaba’s response was all trainer Steve Tregea or jockey Larry Cassidy could have hoped for. Spirited acceleration and keen determination firstly carried Baqaba into contention and then took him right past his opposition and on to a clearcut victory.

Doomben, August 15, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
C, G & E NMW Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-19.73.
1 Baqaba; 2 Bringelly; 3 D/Heat Tarrayoukyan & Ready To Rise.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Steve Tregea: “He’s had four runs from four wide alleys. It doesn’t seem to worry him ... with his racing pattern it probably suits him. It was a good win. I was very happy with that today. He had trialled twice before he started racing and he trialled very well both times so, yeah, he had shown us something.

“He is a single-minded horse. It’s taken a long time to get around him ... to get around his personality. That’s the reason he is a four-year-old with only four runs, but the patience is starting to pay off. He’s taken another step today.

“He’s a tough little horse. Backing him wasn’t worrying me. He ran good time in a Class 1 at the Sunshine Coast two runs back and we thought while he was going well we’d put him into a stronger race and see how he fared. He raced quite well last week and, as I say, it wasn’t a worry bringing backing him up.

“The only thing I worried about was the 1350m because we raced his mother and she couldn’t run any more than 1000m. He’s by Easy Rocking and he didn’t win past 1200m so, even though the horse has shown us he will appreciate it a bit longer, I just had some reservations that we might be taking too big a step, but he got the job done. He’s earned a break now.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “From the draw, I just snagged him out of there. Obviously I would have liked to be a bit closer, but I got back to where I was. I had cover and the main thing was just to keep him happy in the run ... and comfortable. From the 600m I had a lap full of horse and I was quite confident once we got to the outside. He really let down well.

“I said after his last run (over 1000m) he would be hard to beat next start because the 1000m was too short plus there was a lot of kick-back ... and he really didn’t appreciate that. He found the line very strongly. Yeah, there was probably a slight worry going from 1000 to 1350, but the horse has got good ability.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Baqaba): 5.00 out to 5.50.
Favourite (Tarrayoukyan): 3.20 in to 3.00. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer R. Heathcote was fined the sum of $100.00 for late declaration of rider for Swords. Spirito Volante (App O. Turpin) had to be checked shortly after the start between Baqaba (L. Cassidy) and Desert Hayil (App C. McIver), which was taken in by Shudule Gee (App L. Rolls). Bernado (J. Byrne) and Bringelly (C. Reith) were both slow to begin. Shortly after the start Shifteman (A. Pattillo) shifted out taking Tarrayukyan (S. Katsidis) out onto Ready To Rise (M. Cahill).

Shifteman which hung out in the middle stages of the race commenced to hang out leaving the 800m and continued to do so for the remainder of the race. Stewards intend to speak to trainer B. Brown at a later date. Taaryoukyan and Ready To Rise were both held up on straightening until near the 200m. Jovelon (S. Galloway) was held up for clear running until near the 200m. Leaving the 200m Spirito Volente was momentarily steadied off the heels of Shifteman. Reizarb (App M. Hellyer) was unable to obtain clear running until near the 100m. Desert Hayil and Wind Gusts (J. Taylor) both raced wide throughout.

App L. Rolls the rider of Shudule Gee was reprimanded for using his whip on four consecutive strides over the final 200m.