DOOM SEPT 16 - SIRENA LIGERA BOUNCES BACK

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

Doomben, September 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1.5m.
Class 4 Handicap - 1615m. Time: 1-37.08.
1 Sirena Ligera; 2 Our Scooby Doo; 3 Malela.

The Liam Birchley trained Sirena Ligera bounced back from a well below par performance last time to score a second win from her last three starts, taking her overall record to five wins from sixteen outings.

Apprentice jockey Chris McIver positioned the mare in third spot down the back straight. She was up to second place by the turn and perfectly poised to strike, but, when the early leader Oigles tired and dropped away, it was Our Scooby Doo who got first run on the field as he accelerated quickly at the top of the straight.

Sirena Ligera quickly matched the move of Our Scooby Doo and these two runners then joined issue in a protracted struggle to decide the result. Sirena Ligera gradually gained the upper hand and she was still strong at the line as she scored by 0.20 lengths.

Malela flew up late in eye-catching fashion for third after coming from way back in the field. One to watch.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Brichley: “Her last start (when finishing tenth, 12.00 lengths back) the track (at Eagle farm) was shocking, you know. It was suppose to be a ‘Good 3’ or something and the fence was shocking as usual. We’d had a little bit of rain and it was just rubbish, so she just can’t handle it. Other than that she’s been consistent. When the conditions are right she’s done a good job overall.

“She hasn’t won over a mile before but she’s won a couple of 1500’s and I always thought she’d get it, but every time she’s drawn wide and had to work a bit in the run. Today she had a nice cosy run. Chris (McIver) did a good job.”

Jockey Chris McIver: “Mitch (Speers) is suspended at the moment, he comes back Saturday.” (Mitchell Speers is the regular rider of the mare). “I rode it before ... I know her. Mitch has told me about her in track-work and that so it made it a lot easy for Liam (Birchley) to put me back on her again.

“I thought there’d be a bit more pace and we’d be sitting about a length, maybe two lengths back from where we were but it worked out good. I moved her out just at the top of the straight for some clear running and Tony Pattillo’s mount came up beside us and she kept fighting and fighting ... and just that last few strides she just started to slowly, slowly run away from it. She should have a bit more distance in her ... 1800m ... and then see where we go from there.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
C. McIver, rider of Sirena Ligera, momentarily lost the use of his near-side iron on jumping away. He’s Some Eagle (B. Hull) and Majestic Ruler (L. Rolls) were tightened for room at the start between Oigles (G. Colless) and Bang On Broadway (A. Spinks), both of which shifted ground. Approaching the home turn, Mossvana (M. Hellyer) was held up and unable to improve. Upon straightening, Swords (L. Cassidy) was tightened for room when Our Scooby Doo (A. Pattillo) shifted in. Swords lost its off-hind plate in running.

When questioned regarding the improved performance of Sirena Ligera trainer L. Birchley explained that, in his opinion, the mare raced on an inferior part of the track at its last start at Eagle Farm on 5 September and as a result proved disappointing. He further stated that he attributed today's improved performance to the firmer track conditions.

A post-race veterinary examination of Majestic Ruler failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

More articles