EF SEPT 5 - LILLEELAVEE BLOWS THEM AWAY

By Graham Potter | Monday, September 7, 2009

A $100 000 Quality Handicap topped the card at Eagle Farm and it provided a stage for the Fred Adams trained Lilleelavee to show off her talent, particularly her now trademark finishing burst.

Jockey Kristy Banks, given her chance in the absence of Stathi Katsidis, produced a ride the top hoop Katsidis would have been proud of. Banks took the four-year-old back early and relaxed the chestnut in midfield on the rail, a position she held comfortably until approaching the turn.

With the favourite Zero Rock working hard in the lead, after chasing around her field from a wide draw, Lilleelavee cornered in sixth place. Banks gradually shifted her mount out early in the straight in unhurried fashion. Lilleelavee was held up for a run momentarily coming through the 300m, but she shortly after that she bravely took the narrow split between Shakeva and Moppett to get a sight of victory.

Lilleelavee’s superb acceleration kicked in over the last 150m and she needed every bit of that effort to gun down Beyonce’s Star, who had got the better of Zero Rock up front, and to hold out the fast finishing Linear out wide, who had rushed into contention from the rear of the field.

This was the ever-consistent Lilleelavee’s fifth career win. She also has four second place finishes and one third placing to her credit from her fourteen starts.

The result gave Kristy Banks her first city double. The rider scored earlier on the day with Listen Son.

Eagle Farm, September 5, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1m.
Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-11.34.
1 Lilleelavee; 2 Linear; 3 Beyonce's Star.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Fred Adams: “She’s got a finish hasn’t she? When you ride her quiet like that she can get home. She has been very consistent all the way through. Kristy (Banks) rides her work ... does all the work ... and she deserved the ride. When Stathi (Katisidis - who rode the horse in its last two starts) was out well we gave her the ride, you know. Everything worked out according to plan. It couldn’t have gone better. I plan to keep her going for going for the next one in a fortnight ... over 1400m.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Lilleelavee): 9.00 out to 11.00.
Favourite (Zero Rock): 2.50 in to 2.25 out to 2.50.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Zero Rock (G. Colless) blundered on jumping away. Miss Reed (J. Taylor), Plenty Of Practise (M. Morris) and Linear (L. Rolls) were a little slow to begin. G. Colless, rider of Zero Rock, reported that he had to make use of the mare from its wide barrier to obtain the lead and he felt that this had some affect on the horse finishing the race off.

Leaving the 900m, Shakeva (D. Craven) shifted off the rails from behind the heels of Zero Rock, forcing Moppett (J. Bowditch) and Guissepino (J. Byrne) wider on the track. Sleek Repeat (C. Reith) was caught wide on the first turn and then raced wide throughout. A post race veterinary examination of Sleek Repeat revealed the mare had sustained a laceration to the off-hind coronet.

Near the 200m, Lilleelavee (K. Banks), when being positioned between Shakeva (D. Craven) and Moppett (J. Bowditch), made contact with Moppett on two occasions when that horse shifted out away from Shakeva, which was shifting outwards under pressure.

Passing the 150m, Nepro (B. El-Issa) had to be checked when racing between Linear (L. Rolls), which shifted in slightly, and Michelle Cafea (O. Turpin), which was taken out by Moppett, which was unbalanced after making contact with Lilleelavee leaving the 200m. Plenty Of Practise (M. Morris) had difficulty obtaining clear running over the concluding stages of the race

Stewards questioned J. Byrne and trainer's representative Mrs S. Thomson regarding the riding tactics adopted on Guissepino and the horse's performance today. Mrs Thomson stated that jockey Byrne had been instructed to have the horse positioned midfield, as it was at its previous start. J. Byrne stated that from the wide barrier he elected to look for a position midfield, however making the first turn he was caught three wide and was of the opinion he had no option other than to press forward.

He added that in working forward three wide he was obliged to make use of the horse as Shakeva (D. Craven) shifted out from behind the leader, and he was unable to cross to the outside of Zero Rock until near the 600m. J. Byrne stated after being caught wide he was a victim of circumstances and the horse ran on creditably despite tiring over the final 200m.