EF AUG 19 - CALM BEFORE DOES IT IN HER OWN TIME

By Graham Potter | Friday, August 21, 2009

Calm Before got it right this time under an astute ride from apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers.

Well back and wide in the early part, Speers refused to bustle his mount allowing it to race comfortably before hooking it out to be the widest runner in the straight. When Speers moved on Calm Before and asked the four-year-old to set sail after the leaders the mare quickened up nicely and she had little difficulty in rounding up her field, moving past and away from Hearty Laughter over the final 150m to score with plenty in hand.

The win was overdue coming on the back of two runner-up results where she finished as a beaten favourite. This was Calm Before’s second win from thirteen starts. The fact that she has finished either second or third in more than fifty percent of her outings tells the story of a horse that has taken time to learn how to win.

Eagle Farm. August 19, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 7m.
Class 3 Handicap (Fillies & Mares) - 1200m. Time: 1-11.41.
1 Calm Before; 2 Hearty Laughter; 3 Lotza Action.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “We didn’t have a plan to get back, no. I just left it up to the rider. It looked like there was enough speed there. She’ll just go through her grades. Hopefully she can develop enough to win a Listed race somewhere. She is Stakes placed already - in the Douglas Wadley. She just hasn’t had a lot of luck, particularly with the barriers.”

Apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers: “She just can’t draw an alley. I rode her twice and slaughtered her both times. Today was better obviously. Liam (Birchley) said as long as she gets cover ... and she got a bit of cover.

“I rode her a bit more quietly today. Liam said go forward, but she didn’t begin all that well. She only began fair sort of thing, so I rode her quieter. That might be her go I think. I think she might be better off ridden quieter. She’s always been ridden for speed before.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Calm Before): 2.40 out to 2.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Hearty Laughter (J. Byrne) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, tightening the running of Lotza Action (K. Banks), which shortly after clipped the heels of Hearty Laughter (J. Byrne) and blundered. Hearty Laughter over-raced in the middle stages. Leaving the 300m, Margette (M. Hellyer) shifted out under pressure, hampering Bloomin Thunder.