ONE LICKETY SPLIT MAINTAINS UNBEATEN RECORD IN STYLE

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 9, 2009

Doomben - Golden Stakes Plate (Listed - 2yo’s at set weights) - 1200m. Time 1-09.91.
Track: Good 3. Rail: True.
1 Lickety Split; 2 Modonna; 3 Temple Of Boom.

The unbeaten One Lickety Split (Jim Cassidy) settled seventh, three wide all the way to the turn. The smart son of Medecis gradually worked himself into contention in the straight and then had the strength and determination to have them all covered in the final run home. This was very impressive.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gordon Yorke: “He showed today, he’s not just a wet tracker. He’s just special, he can run anything. All the credit to Jimmy (Cassidy), you know. He showed plenty of patience, on him. He tracked three deep. He just sat there and cuddled him for as long as he could. Then did what we were looking for.

“I wasn’t that happy bringing him here today. I wasn’t happy about pushing him over the 1200. He wants more ground and doesn’t like being bustled early. Previously he raced fresh and keen, but he is starting to establish his pattern of racing. He has showed that he doesn’t just want to go. He doesn’t want to bustle early. He wants to relax and breathe a bit. He wants to just be comfortable, you know. Today he settled nicely. You can do that with him and not worry, because he knows where the line is. He just pricks his ears and lets go when he’s ready. I told the owners quite early that they had better start brushing up on the speeches, because we have got a good one here. I’m just lucky to train it.

“We’re going to have a look around. There are a couple of races coming up that might suit him. I’ve got him nominated for the TJ (Smith). That’s obviously what we would like to be in, you know. He’ll make the decision, I think he’s a bit special this horse ... always has been. He’s an exciting little pony. The horse will decide where he’s going. I don’t like racing two year-olds too much.”

Jockey Jim Cassidy: “He’s a good type. I was forced to race three deep from the 800 to the corner. The thing that impressed me was when I asked him to let down, he let down good. He’s certainly going somewhere. Yorkie said he was pretty smart. He had a query on top of the ground today because his two wins have been on slow ground. But he indicated to me that he thought he was really going somewhere. He’s laid back. Yorkie might like to cuddle his horses. We’ll cuddle him to the TJ. That’s where we’ll be going, I think.”

Winner (One Lickety Split): 4.60 out to 5.00.
Favourite (Modonna): 4.40 in to 4.00 out to 4.20.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 800m One Lickety Split and Our Dreaming were forced to race in restricted room between Femina Fashion and Temple Of Boom (M. Cahill) which shifted in. M. Cahill was advised to exercise more care in future when shifting ground.

Near the 600m Our Dreaming struck the heels of Temple Of Boom and blundered. Irish Dream, Captain Sonador and Brisk Zac, which were following, were hampered as a consequence.

PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON HRO REGARDING WINNER:
Trainer Gordon Yorke (speaking after One Lickety Split previous win at Eagle Farm on April 18, 2009): “I’ve just got a hunch that he has a big future this horse. It was an impressive win at Grafton. I was just talking to the owner beforehand and I said he’s done everything right, yet people would be looking and saying he’s only had one start. That’s one win from one start, but he’s also had three barrier trails - he’s had two this prep ... and he’s just learning and learning and he’s every bit a professional, you know. I said to young Luke (Cumberland), just settle him and if you get shuffled back, don’t care. I said, all I want you to do is balance him in the straight, take your time, aim him and then let him go because it’s not over till his done. My plan, so far, has been to avoid the dry because it jars two-year-olds up. It’s not about one race. It’s about a career and, like I say, I think he’s got a big future.”