SCST SEPT 13 - GOONIWIGGAL OUTGUNS MARKET RIVAL

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Sunshine Coast, September 13, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 2m.
3yo QTIS Maiden Plate - 1000m. Time: 58.95.
1 Gooniwiggal; 2 Promo Girl; 3 Moama.

The $4.20 equal favourites Promo Girl and Gooniwiggal both jumped smartly from their outside barrier positions and they both had the speed to cross their field and take up the running. Promo Girl found the rail and Gooniwiggal sat just on her outside as they joined in a private contest which would go right down to the wire.

Gooniwggal pressured Promo Girl until edging ahead of her rival coming past the 150m. Once in front the Jamie Nielsen trained runner held on tenaciously to her advantage as Promo Girl gamely tried to fight back. In the end there was just under a half-a-length between them at the line.

The unlucky horse of the race was Maoma who was held tight on the rail with nowhere to go when looking to challenge for the lead all the way up the straight. Her third placing, when just 1.20 lengths off the winner without being fully tested in her debut outing, should make her well worth a second glance next time out.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Jason Taylor: “Looking at the form the horse looked like it was quite strong. It raced a bit greenly and cost itself winning last start (when third in first start in Queensland after relocating from Melbourne). Through having that experience under its belt, it raced very true today and did a good job in the finish. I thought I was going to win a lot easier in the straight, but they made me work for it the last bit.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Bonafide Rascal (K. James) jumped outwards at the start, making contact with Rioqualo (P. Hammersley). Run Riva (K. Sawyers), Mystic Legend (M. Wood) and Royal Arch (S. Holcombe) were all slow to begin. Moama (S. Seamer) began awkwardly. The saddle on Royal Arch shifted forward shortly after the start, placing S. Holcombe at a disadvantage throughout the event. As a result of the saddle shifting, S. Holcombe dismounted after passing the winning post.

Near the 600m, Love A Sequalo (J. Letherby), which was racing ungenerously, was tightened for room between Hugging (L. Rolls) and Coconut Lass (M. Hughes), which was inclined to hang out. In this incident, Love A Sequalo became awkward on the heels of Hugging (L. Rolls) and blundered.

Passing the 500m, Run Riva had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Mystic Legend (M. Wood), which shifted in slightly. Bonafide Rascal and Ragazaa Veloce (S. Kennedy) raced wide for the majority of the event.

App. K. James, rider of Bonafide Rascal, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that near the 300m she permitted her mount to shift out under pressure when insufficiently clear of Love A Sequalo, which had to be checked to avoid the heels of Bonafide Rascal. K. James was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 13 September and to expire at midnight, 27 September 2009.