DOOM SEPT 16 - BODY DOUBLE OUTGUNS GO GERRY

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Friday, September 18, 2009

Doomben, September 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1.5m.
Class 4 Handicap - 2200m. Time: 2-17.41.
1 Body Double; 2 Go Gerry; 3 Jess Sar Belle.

A mid-race move by jockey Jim Byrne, in which he improved Body Double’s position when pushing forward to sit up alongside and annoy the main fancy Go Gerry in a slow run affair proved to be an effective launching pad in her bid for victory.

It was a still a casual gallop until the turn, but things got serious on straightening. Go Gerry and Body Double locked horns as they accelerated early in the straight. After a head to head struggle for a number of strides it looked as if Body Double had the measure of Go Gerry, but the latter fought back again at the 200m mark and it took another 100m before the matter was settled in favour of Body Double who eased away from her game rival in the closing stages.

Body Double is now a four-time winner from twenty-one starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Rex Lipp: “The toppy (Go Gerry) was the one to beat of course. We were a bit worried that he would have a very soft lead out in front. I said to Jimmy (Byrne), whatever you don’t, don’t let it have a soft lead. If you’ve got to make a mid-race dash, do it, you know ... and that’s what he did and of course we were there on the turn and she was too strong.

“At the Gold Coast (last time out) ... exactly what happened ... well, there was no pace in the race. Just nothing went right. They all went over the line together. She just couldn’t get through. The two runs before that (where she turned in below par performances) were on the cushion track and I don’t think she handles the cushion track. She’s just one of those one’s that doesn’t handle the cushion track, full stop. There’s nothing wrong with the cushion track, it’s just one of those things that happen.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “Yeah look, she can show a turn of foot. But, you know, if it’s slow... If there is good pace on, she does show’s a turn of foot. But if it is a slowly run race and you have to pull a bit she becomes a bit dour. So you’re better off making it a true staying event rather than a sit and sprint, which is what it was turning out to be.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Elton’s Son (M. Hellyer) was slow to begin. On the home turn, Elton’s Son became momentarily unbalanced when awkwardly placed close to the heels of Nassavette (J. Wood). Shortly after straightening, Body Double (J. Byrne) shifted in and made contact with Go Gerry (L. Cassidy).

When questioned regarding the tactics employed on Hooray Toby (D. Griffin), in particular the reason for him moving his mount three wide shortly after the field entered the back straight. D. Griffin stated that he had been instructed by trainer G. Hutchesson that if there was a slow pace that he progress forward as the horse is very one-paced. D. Griffin added that at the same stage he made the decision to move three wide, Body Double (J. Byrne), who was forward of him, also progressed three wide, and the pace of the race then increased, resulting in him being obliged to race three wide for the remainder of the event. The explanation was noted.