EF AUG 26 - SPEERS ON TARGET AGAIN

By Graham Potter | Friday, August 28, 2009

After riding his first city double a week earlier, apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers scored his second successive midweek double when he piloted Emmertt and Calm Before to victory at Eagle Farm.

The Michael Nolan trained Emmertt has yet to run a bad race. He finished third in his opener at Dalby back in March. The chestnut then returned from a spell early in August and finished a close-up second behind Listen Son (who has won again since then) before claiming his first win here when outgunning the useful and more experienced Spiffing.

The Liam Birchley trained Calm Before backed up from last Wednesday and turned in an equally authoritive performance to make it two-in-a-row, showing she is really learning how to win now after her career had marked time for a period with a series of minor placed finishes.

Eagle Farm, August 26, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10m.
3yo Maiden Handicap - 1200m. Time 1-13.61.
1 Emmertt; 2 Spiffing; 3 Margaret.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers: “The trainer said to be about fifth or sixth. But when they were going that slow early I just thought I’d go to the front. As soon as I got there he shied from the run ... so I think he will be a blinker horse eventually. He’s got the result on the board tough. He’s got a lot of natural ability, but he’s still very, very green.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Emmertt): 4.00 out to 4.40.
Favourite (Spiffing): 3.50 out to 3.80. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Promo Girl was declared a late scratching at 8.35 am on veterinary advice. Trainer T. Gollan, through his representative Mr R. Milne, was advised that a fine of $100 was being imposed for negligence in attaching the ring bit incorrectly, which resulted in an adjustment having to be made behind the barriers which then resulted in the start being delayed. Piccone (A. Pattillo) jumped away awkwardly. Shortly after the start, Lady Adament (K. Banks) was cramped for room between Indigo Lad (J. Byrne) and Red God (L. Cassidy), which shifted in. Near the 1100m, Piccone (A. Pattillo) became unbalanced when tightened for room by Indigo Lad (J. Byrne), which shifted in and away from Red God (L. Cassidy). Indigo Lad then commenced to over-race and near the 800m when over-racing had to be checked off the heels of Red God. Piccone, which was following, also over-raced and had to be checked when racing ungenerously at the heels of Indigo Lad. Fifteen Carat (M. Cahill) was inconvenienced near the 800m and 600m as a result of Piccone over-racing.

As a result of the slow pace in the middle stages, Perfect Option (J. Taylor) shifted out from behind the heels of Hemp And Soap (B. Pengelly) and raced wide in the middle stages. L. Rolls, rider of Margaret, lost his whip near the 250m. Croft’s Quest (M. Hellyer) raced wide throughout.


Eagle Farm, August 26, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10m.
Class 4 Handicap (Fillies & Mares) - 1200m. Time: 1-11.33.
1 Calm Before; 2 Queen Of Asia; 3 Our Angel Eyes.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Calm Before): 2.05 in to 1.90 out to 2.05.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Aulani (C. Reith) and Our Angel Eyes (C. McIver) were tightened for room shortly after the start between Best Of Ceedee (M. Hellyer) and Academy Pride (A. Pattillo), both of which shifted ground.
Kootenannie (A. Spinks) was slow to begin. Academy Pride was caught wide on the first turn.

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