GOLD COAST, MAY 7: ZIELKE ADDS ANOTHER NOTCH ONTO HIS BELT AS ROYAL TITHE TAKES OUT THE KEN RUSSELL

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 9, 2016

KEN RUSSELL MEMORIAL CLASSIC – GROUP 3
QTIS Two-Year-old Plate – 1200m

Trainer John Zielke’s success with two year olds this season has been well documented and the stable added another notch onto its belt when Royal Tithe proved too strong for her opposition.

Royal Tithe became the third successive winner on the day to have a starting price of $21 but those exaggerated odds had less to do with her form than it had to do with the bookmaker’s opinion of the Godolphin runner Impending who they marked up as virtually unbeatable at the prohibitive odds of $1.57.

Those who try to buy money at those odds were in for a shock and their lamenting of a hard luck story with Impending being constantly held up for a run in the straight should it take anything away from the tough as teak performance of Royal Tithe and the winning move of jockey Luke Dittman.

That move came on the point of the turn where Dittman marked time for one stride so that he could then manoeuvre his mount out into clear running. He like Impending, who had raced just a length behind Royal Tithe in the first half of the race, were both still well back off the hot speed set by Purrari at that stage but it was a crucial moment.

Dittman shifted Royal Tithe out into clear running. McDonald went inside and was faced by a wall of horses.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Not that Royal Tithe only had to beat one horse. The cavalry charge to the line was no place for the faint-hearted. Parrari, Sundance, Charmley River, Oink and Emphatically were all close enough at some stage in the straight to be within sight of victory but none of these runners could withstand the strong finish of Royal Tithe who stormed home to make it three wins from seven starts.

Oink, who has yet to run a bad race, and Impending, who arrived when it was all over, filled second and third place respectively.

WINNER FEEDBACK

TRAINER JOHN ZIELKE:

“She jumped out very, very well last week for Luke (Dittman). That was his choice. He got off Spot The Diff so that should have been the tip for it.

“She was little bit further back than I expected in the race but there was a lot of speed on. That horse out front (Parrari) put an enormous amount of pace into the race which probably suited a back-marker horse like her, but what a sensational ride.

“She’s a very good filly. She’s heading for the Sires Produce now.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

INVERARAY – Slow to begin. Near the 850m had to be steadied when tightened for room by SPOT THE DIFF, which shifted in.

EMPHATICALLY – Began awkwardly.

PUNISHING – Began awkwardly.

IMPENDING – Began awkwardly. Passing the 200m was disappointed for a run to the inside of CHARNLEY RIVER and was then obliged to shift out across the heels of 3 runners to secure clear running.

SPRING TYCOON – Had to be checked when tightened for room near the 200m. Jockey B. Shinn (EMPHATICALLY) was reprimanded for shifting out when insufficiently clear.

EMTEVEE QUEEN – Raced 3 wide without cover for the majority.

SPOT THE DIFF – Jockey B. Spriggs reported at scale that in his opinion his mount had come to the end of its preparation.

PURRARI – When questioned as to the tactics adopted jockey T. Clark stated that the filly raced in a similar manner at its previous start at Canterbury when it showed good early speed. Jockey Clark added that leaving the 900m he attempted to restrain the filly however, it was inclined to over-race and in his opinion it failed to run out a strong 1200m as a result of its racing manners.

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