ROSEHILL MARCH 12 - SOUCHEZ DEALS GODOLPHIN ANOTHER GOLDEN SLIPPER CARD

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 14, 2016

Rosehill Gardens - March 12, 2016.
CAFÉ CULTURE + INSITU PAGO PAGO STAKES (Group 2) - 1200m.
Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings - Set Weights.

WINNER: SOUCHEZ (2 b c Lonhro - Vimy).
Owners: Godolphin

Trainer: John O’Shea. Jockey: James McDonald
Second: Chimboraa. Third: Mount Panarama.
Won by 0.20 lengths at a starting price of $2.70
Track: Good. Rail: True. Time: 1:10.43. Last 600m: 34.60.

SOUCHEZ won on debut on December 19 when beating Mooshaissa over 1100m at Rosehill. He resumed nearly ten weeks later finishing third in the Group 2 Skyline behind Good Standing and Lionhearted. This win, from barrier one with James McDonald in the saddle in a race for the first time, took his record to two wins from three starts and it qualified SOUCHEZ for the Golden Slipper.

THE RUN OF THE RACE:

LIONHEARTED ($3.60 second favourite) was best away from the extreme outside draw but SOUCHEZ (the $2.70 main fancy) kicked up from pole position to keep that one out from which moment McDonald looked to control the race.

LIONHEARTED was still at SOUCHEZ’S shoulder as the two straightened for home and when McDonald asked SOUCHEZ to quicken coming through the 300m the battle was well and truly joined.

SOUCHEZ always held the upper hand there though but, just as he started to edge away from LIONHEARTED, two runners emerged as a threat. Both CHIMBORAA (a $71 outsider) and MOUNT PANORAMA (the $4.40 third favourite) ran on strongly keeping SOUCHEZ honest all the way to the line but, ultimately, they had to settle for second and third placing respectively as the favourite got home with 0,20 lengths to spare.

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER JOHN O’SHEA:

“Great James McDonald ride on a very impressive young horse who wants to be a racehorse.

“James rode him on Tuesday morning and I think that gave him a lot of confidence to do what he did on him today. Although he got to the front nice and easy he always had him in a nice rhythm which was great.

“Where does he fit in our ranking? I think the market has our horses ranked properly (for the Golden Slipper). Obviously Astern is a great chance. We love Telperion and we’ve got the filly (Calliope) to come in the next. We think very highly of her.”

JOCKEY JAMES MCDONALD:

“He’s qualified for the Slipper so he’ll have his chance but I think he will be a genuine seven furlong to a mile horse in the near future and make a lovely three-year-old. He’s still got a lot to learn.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

MOUNT PANORAMA - jumped awkwardly. Held up rounding the home turn. Laid out under pressure over the final 100m.

MEDITERRANEAN - jumped awkwardly. Held up rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight.

ATTENTION - jumped awkwardly and lost ground. Over-raced in the early stages.

THE REVEREND DEMON - laid out rounding the home turn. Continued to lay out under pressure in the straight.

POTENT FORCE - near the 200m had to be steadied away from the heels of Chimboraa (S Clipperton) which, when racing greenly, shifted out under pressure when insufficiently clear. S Clipperton was reprimanded and advised to stop riding and take corrective action sooner than he did on this occasion.

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