SCST SEPT 13 - PATAPINDA PUNCHES ABOVE HIS WEIGHT

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Sunshine Coast, September 13, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 2m.
Class 1 Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-11.93.
1 Patapinda; 2 Another Heart; 3 Upi Bay.

The Troy Hall trained Patapinda stepped out of his grade and scored a spirited, hard-earned victory to claim his first win in his sixth career start.

The gelding failed to finish in the first three places in four starts down south before transferring to the Hall stable at the Sunshine Coast. A short-neck, runner-up finish last time put the writing on the wall, suggesting a maiden win was pending, but Hall raised the ante by asking Patapinda to test his prowess in Class 1 company.

The three-year-old landed in the leading line, went back to fourth briefly before stretching out to settle in second place just outside the leader Matai. An early move in the straight from apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer put the three-year-old in the pound seats, but the gelding’s character was still to face a stern test as last start winner Another Heart came at Patapinda with meaning.

It looked like Another Heart would go right past Patapinda at the 150m mark, but Hellyer rallied his mount and Patapinda, who had what turned out to be a race-winning 6kg advantage over his rival, fought on to cling to the result by a short-head.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “A Maidener winning a Class 1 race ... it just goes to show what a nice horse it is. It’s really green still. I really think it is going to go on from here. They’ll take it to town next start, I think. I told Troy (Hall), when this matures and learns how to race he’s is going to be a very nice horse up this way. He has got a lot of potential this horse, but he is still trying to figure out how to use it.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Patapinda (M. Hellyer) and Gondola Girl (D. Browne) were tightened for room at the start between Upi Bay (M. Hughes) and Hotel Of The Stars (B. Stewart), both of which shifted ground. General Birdwood (S. Katsidis) jumped inwards at the start, making contact with Tedika (J. Kropp).

Shortly after the start, Hotel Of The Stars shifted in, making contact with Gondola Girl. Hotel Of The Stars then commenced to over-race for a short distance thereafter. Ultimate Choice (K. Sawyers) raced wide in the early stages. Leaving the 700m, Hotel Of The Stars shifted wider on the track to improve.

General Birdwood had difficulty obtaining clear running from leaving the 500m, and then leaving the 300m was disappointed for a run to the inside of Tedika (J. Kropp) and had to be steadied and shift out to obtain clear running.