GOLD COAST, MAY 7 - ROYAL OCCASION RIGHT ON SONG WITH A PERFECTLY JUDGED LAST TO FIRST VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 9, 2016

BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP – 1200m

In an open contest, the Mathew Dunn trained Royal Occasion ($21) scored a well-judged last to first victory to edge out Apple Thief by 0.20 lengths.

Dropped out from his wide draw Royal Occasion gave the leaders some eight to nine lengths start in the sweep to the home turn.

Not only was he still bringing up the rear as the field straightened for home, but Royal Occasion had to switch out to track a course some eight to nine wide in order to find clear running.

Balancing out that negative was the fact that the five-year-old son of Lonhro was always travelling well, as was Apple Thief ($8) who had kept Royal Occasion company at the back of the field before tracking a similar path in the straight.

Lucky Tom ($6), who had got the better of Florida Fellow ($61) up front set the initial target in the home straight but Kraftwerk(the $5 favcurite) then emerged to take over at the head of affairs inside the final 150.

All the while though Apple Thief and Royal Occasion were winding up on the outside and this duo had the momentum in the closing stages and they moved past Kraftwerk and fought out a lively finish with Royal Occasion finishing the stronger of the two to claim his sixth victory from nineteen starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER MATTHEW DUNN:

“He deserved to win a Saturday race this horse. Jim Kennedy and his family have been really patient with him. We put him out last time ... waiting for Eagle Farm pretty much. He’s done a good job today.

“I’m not sure quite why he was those odds but he has got the job done. The stablemate (Londehero) went around shorter than him today but their runs were equally as good in the same race first-up last time.

“He has certainly got a future. We just need to space his runs and give him a chance to recover properly.

"He doesn’t quite have the physical toughness to cope with the rigours of too short a time between runs but we’ll spread them now and who knows what he can achieve.”

JOCKEY ROBBIE FRADD:

“It was a good tempo ... pretty quick. That is what this horse needs. He is a horse that finishes off strong with a good turn of foot.

“His last run was promising. He hit the line good and solid. I thought if they go a good tempo I’ll just bide my time with him.

"I liked the way he pegged his ears back and stuck his head out, you know. It’s kinda like me when I’m going on holiday.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

SONY LEGEND – Leaving the 500m shifted out and bumped LONDEHERO.

LONDEHERO – Bumped leaving the 500m by SONY LEGEND and became unbalanced.

FLYING RIDDLE – Held up rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the home straight. App B. Appo reported at scale that his mount over-raced in the middle stages.

KUDERO – Held up rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the home straight and then near the 200m had to be steadied when disappointed for a run to the inside of the weakening FLORIDA FELLOW and as a consequence went to the line without being fully tested.

SIEGFRIED – Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early stages of the home straight.

TOTAL AUTHORITY – Raced wide without cover throughout.

KRAFTWERK – Raced wide throughout.

APPLE THIEF – Raced wide throughout.

PERFECT PUNCH – Cast a near-fore plate in running.

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