DOOM SEPT 16 - FIELDING BY A NOSTRIL

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Thursday, September 17, 2009

Doomben, September 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1.5m
Class 4 Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-19.48.
1 Fielding; 2 Danardos; 3 Hearty Laughter.

After setting the tempo to suit his cause, Fielding prevailed in a tight finish as Danardos dived at the line but had to settle for second best on the day as Fielding had done enough to notch up the fourth win of his career.

Racing with a change of gear (Norton bits off, Lugging bits on) Fielding pushed up into second place soon after the start and then moved up past Hearty Laughter to lead going through the 900m. Regular pilot Anthony Merritt ensured the seven-year-old maintained a good gallop to the turn. On straightening Fielding led Hearty Laughter by two lengths ... and the chase was on.

As Hearty Laughter lengthened her stride, Fielding responded in kind and he managed to tame the challenge of Hearty Laughter. He had the latter beaten inside the final 100m. The situation was not quite so clear-cut with Danardos who rallied after being delayed along the inside rail. Danardos was closing fast at the line which came just in time for Fielding to get the result by a nose.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Anthony Merritt: “Yeah, I’ve been riding him for a few years now. I think I’ve rode him about ten times ... won about three on him, so I know him pretty well.

“We were expecting him to run well today. He has been throwing up a few sort of tricks. He’s been missing the kick lately and he’s a funny horse. He needs plenty of galloping room. He doesn’t really like to be stuck in there behind them. He just likes to just do things his own way. That was the plan today, to give him space. Usually, he’s a really hard horse to get past. He just keeps whacking away.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Falconten (L. Cassidy) jumped away awkwardly. Falconten over-raced in the early stages and near the 800m improved up on to the heels of Rapid Babe (P. Hammersley) and was obliged to shift out off that horse's heels. Falconten then raced three wide. Life’s Short (B. El-Issa) also over-raced in the early and middle stages. Queen Of Asia (L. Rolls) and Make Mine Cash (A. Pattillo) raced wide throughout.

Jockey D. Sparks, rider of Sports Academy, was found guilty of a charge under AR137A(4)(c), in that he applied the whip to that horse when it was out of contention. D. Sparks was fined $200.

A post-race veterinary examination of Queen Of Asia failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.