DOOM AUG 29 - STRONG SHOWING FROM FAB FEVOLA

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, August 31, 2009

The Bryan Guy trained Fab Fevola bounced back from a disappointing defeat last time to land his third victory from only five starts.

The Falvelon chestnut has had big wraps on him for some time and his followers would have been well pleased with his clinical display in which he basically had the race in his keeping from start to finish.

Fab Fevola bounded out of the gates to land in the lead. He was then restrained back into second place as he allowed Bevagna to take up the running along the inside running rail. The leader only held her advantage until jockey Jim Byrne on Fab Fevola wished to reclaim it though, and that move came at the head of the straight where Fab Fevola was given free rein to assert his authority.

His only worry was the class filly Funtantes, a Group 2 winner, who closed steadily on Fab Fevola over the last 200m without really looking likely to snare the result. Fab Fevola enjoyed a favourable 2kg pull at the weights over Funtantes, who was resuming here in her first start since her Winter Carnival exploits. Both runners went away with full credit for their respective performances.

Doomben, August 29.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 5.5m.
3yo QTIS Handicap - 1110m. Time: 1-04.40.
1 Fab Fevola; 2 Funtantes; 3 Fleet ‘N’ Fast

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “Maybe the other day (when Fab Fevola disappointed behind Princess Qualo), it could have been second up (syndrome), I don’t know. He did that last time in second-up. I don’t know if it is that though.

“I galloped him on the Tuesday morning before his last run and he ran a sensational time. I might have knocked the edge off him then, I don’t know. Either that, or, last preparation he won very well first up ... second up he went ordinary. So he might not be a second-up horse.

“He’s gone okay since then. I changed ... I did a little bit different with him this time and eased off him early in the week and its kept him fresh and he came here today and he was on his best behaviour. He settled good.

“More than likely he will probably go to the paddock Monday. I won’t make any decisions straight away, but I would probably say he will nearly go to the paddock Monday and give him that little bit of time. He is a Magic Millions horse. We can give him a month in the paddock and just give him that bit of a break, you know.

“There are 1000m races on. He’s got a few options. He just travelled so good today, you know ... he was always travelling. I told Jim (Byrne) today, if they want to go forward and carve you up mate, just take a sit on him. I’d rather ride him off the pace. I said I’d love to see him with a sit ... and Jimmy jumped and the only one that went forward was Mick Mair’s horse (Bevagna). Jimmy said he settled good just off him and then he skipped away in the corner.

“Everybody put a little knock on him on the 1200m when he was beaten last time. I’d like to see him with a sit still ... and I reckon he’ll get 1200m. If he can find horses who have got a bit of speed in the race and he can sit back fourth or fifth, he can accelerate as you’ve seen today on the corner.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “Yeah, look, Brian and I spoke before the race and, you know, he said ideally I’d like to be the one-one sort of thing. Obviously Funtantes is a very good horse and it raced very well through the carnival so we knew she’d be the hardest to beat and today. He’s going to get better the more he relaxes. He’s very quick out of the machines and he knows how to step on the peddle straight away, so you know, he’s a nice horse. He’ll continue to win on.

“You know what, once he’s in behind them he does relax, but probably as you’ve seen at the 900 when I started trying to restrain him a bit, he fought me a little bit. So once he does get something to lead and, you know, he’s able to sit in just behind them sort of thing, I do think he’ll fly to the line. I don’t think the six furlongs are going to be too much of a problem. Obviously, you know, it was his last start, but it’s a bit hard because when they’ve got that much improvement out of their first win sometimes they don’t come up and race that good second-up. And sure enough that’s what he did the other day. So I think there is more improvement in him."

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Fleet ‘N’ Fast, which struck its head in its race day stall, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. Handsome Playboy (J. Bowditch) was tightened for room shortly after the start between Ima Cool Dude (C. Beets), which shifted out away from Arcup (C. McIver), and Lady Leo (A. Spinks), which was taken in by Purr Of Glory (C. Reith) after that horse had been bumped by Fab Fevola (J. Byrne). Bevagna (K. Pope) jumped away awkwardly. Near the 600m, Funtantes (M. Speers) and Purr Of Glory (C. Reith) bumped. Handsome Playboy (J. Bowditch) had difficulty obtaining clear running for the entire straight. Dancingwithangels (L. Cassidy) and Funtantes raced three wide with cover for the majority of the race.

M. Speers, rider of Funtantes, was reprimanded for using his whip on more than one occasion in 3 consecutive strides in the final 200m. As this was apprentice Speers second offence, a reprimand was issued in keeping with the guidelines.

When questioned as to the disappointing performance of Dancingwithangels, L. Cassidy explained that despite being caught racing three wide throughout, the horse did not travel well today and was under under pressure on straightening.

Following the event, after A. Pattillo appeared to be ill and distressed at scale, stewards ordered he be examined by the club's doctor, who subsequently cleared A. Pattillo to fulfil his remaining engagements.