EF AUG 19 - CAPTAIN CLAYTON SALUTES IN HIS SECOND START

By Graham Potter | Friday, August 21, 2009

The Robert Heathcote trained Captain Clayton was always up with the speed. He turned for home in the leading line and, with challenges coming from all around, jockey Damian Browne held his mount up for as long as he could without losing position, before punching him out over the last 180m, where he was able to open up a winning advantage.

Eagle Farm. August 19, 2009.
Track -Good 3. Rail - out 7m.
3yo Maiden Handicap - 1000m.Time: 58.76.
1 Captain Clayton; 2 Handsome Playboy; 3 Kolo.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Damian Browne: “They always had a bit of an opinion of this horse. Rob (Heathcote) said when I was engaged to ride it that he thought the horse was going very well. He will take a bit of improvement out of today and going forward I think he will get over a bit of ground too.

“He’s still got a little bit to learn. He got trapped three out and didn’t know what to do ... when he hit the front he waited on them a little bit ... but like I say he’ll take improvement - natural improvement - out of the run.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Captain Clayton): 6.00 out to 7.00.
Favourite (Red Dash): 4.80 in to 4.00. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Not Legal (C. Reith) was tightened for room between King Kapo (A. Spinks) and Sunshine Angel (S. Galloway), both of which shifted ground. In Lights (K. Pope) was slow to begin. Leaving the 400m, King Capo (A. Spinks) shifted out, making contact with Sinerji (M. Hellyer). B. Stewart, rider of Red Dash, was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift out approaching the 200m, resulting in Sunshine Angel (S. Galloway) having to be steadied. Schills (J. Byrne) and Handsome Playboy (M. Cahill) and Sinerji (M. Hellyer) raced wide throughout.

S. Katsidis, rider of Miss Rye, reported that he was unable to obtain clear running in the straight and stated that approaching the 200m Flaxen Belle (M. Speers), shifted out momentarily enabling the opportunity of a tight run to its inside, however Flaxen Belle then shifted back to the rail, resulting in him being unable to fully test his mount in the run to the finish.