RANDWICK MARCH 5: FRENCH FERN UPSTAGES HER RIVALS AT LONG ODDS IN GROUP 2 RIESLING STAKES
By Graham Potter | Monday, March 7, 2016
RANDWICK, MARCH 5, 2016.
RIESLING STAKES (Group 2).
Two-year-old fillies - Set weights - 1200m.
WINNER: FRENCH FERN (2 b f Lope De Vega - La Famelia).
Owners: Aston Bloodstock (Mgr: W J Mula), D & M Payne Racing (Mgr: D L Payne), Morley Racing (Mgr: P Morley), Mrs E Morley, D Morley, Maxibeam Racing (Mgr: R C Beames), Mrs R J Mula, G W Aldridge & Mrs S Aldridge, Luskin Park Stud (Mgr: P Whelan).
Trainer: David Payne. Jockey: Blake Shinn.
Second: Quick Feet. Third: Moqueen.
Won by 0.80 lengths at a starting price of $31.
Track: Good 3. Rail: True. Penetrometer: 4.96.
Time: 1:10.64. Last 600m: 35.70. Weight carried: 55.5kg.
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THE RUN OF THE RACE:
A $13 winner at her previous start over 1200m at Canterbury, French Fern went out at an even longer price ($18) here as she stepped up to Group 2 company in her third career start. Blake Shinn ensured the filly was always handy in the running, but that came at a cost of travelling three wide to the turn, behind the frontrunner Zelady’s Night Out ($6.50) and Super Two ($41), but she quickly joined issue with those leaders on straightening.
Super Two got the better of Zelady’s Night Out halfway up the straight but French Fern was resolute in her challenge and she extended well going through the 200m and was in front by the 150m mark.
The filly stayed tough in the final run to the line to see off Quick Feet ($18), who came from last in the tightly packed field, and Moqueen, who hit the line well after being forced to switch around heels when held up mid-straight.
The $2.40 favourite Honesty Prevails had a rails run early, threatened briefly in the straight but failed to kick on when it mattered most, finishing fourth, 1.70 lengths behind the winner. Jockey Jason Collett gave the incident at the start, which resulted in the joint favourite Calliope being withdrawn, as a possible reason for Honesty Prevails not running up to her Widden Stakes form.
JOCKEY JASON COLLETT (rider of Honesty Prevails):
“We were in the gates for too long, she was a little bit unsettled, she didn’t settle well during the race and that just took away from a finish.
*French Fern has now won two of her three starts, scoring back to back in her last two runs after being placed third on her debut.
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WINNER FEEDBACK:
TRAINER DAVID PAYNE:
“We might not go there(referring to the Golden Slipper). You don’t want to ruin them early, she’s a valuable filly and we’ll just let the dust settle and then we’ll decide.
JOCKEY BLAKE SHINN:
"I think she's got to improve a bit to win a Golden Slipper. She gives me the impression she might be better suited at 1400m to a mile.
"She did a great job. She was wide the whole way but always travelled well. She kicked strongly and had to grit her teeth to win the race."
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STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
CALLIOPE - after being placed in the barrier, reared and got its off foreleg over the partition. As
the filly was caught up over the partition for some time, acting on veterinary advice, it was
withdrawn at 12.22pm. Stewards placed a warning on the barrier manners of Calliope which had not previously come under notice in respect of its barrier manners. Trainer Mr J O'Shea undertook to submit Calliope to barrier practice prior to its next race start.
MOQUEEN - held up in the early part of the straight and approaching the 200m was shifted to
the outside of French Fern to continue into clear running. Close to the finish line was placed
in restricted room when French Fern shifted out quickly under pressure. B Shinn, rider of
French Fern, was advised to exercise more care.
HONESTY PREVAILS - when questioned regarding the disappointing performance, rider J Collett
stated that the filly, which had been standing in the barriers for some time, was a little slow to
begin and then was inclined to race keenly in the early and middle stages. He added that,
whilst it was not his intention to come back to the inside, when he was unable to obtain clear
running on straightening, he was obliged to direct his mount to the inside of Zelady's Night Out
to secure clear running, but his mount was somewhat disappointing in its failure to finish the
race off. J Collett further added, in his opinion, Honesty Prevails would derive benefit from
today's run. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be displaying a poor postrace
recovery.
ZELADY'S NIGHT OUT - rider T Clark stated, after obtaining a comfortable lead, the filly was
inclined to lay out, but was most disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding in the
straight. He added, in his view, Zelady's Night Out raced like it may have come to the end of
its preparation. Trainer Mr T Gollan reported that the filly had not backed up since its
unplaced effort in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on 9 January 2016 and would now be
spelled.
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