DOOM SEPT 16 - CHANGE OF SCENERY DOES THE TRICK FOR SEVENTH HEART

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

Doomben, September 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1.5m.
C, G & E Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 1110m. Time: 1-04.97.
1 Seventh Heart; 2 Chilli Rock; 3 Looks Like Deano.

Seventh Heart’s first run in Queensland resulted in his first career victory.

The lightly raced three-year-old (this was his fifth start) scored in clinical fashion under the astute handling of jockey Glen Colless who was completing a race-to-race double on the day, the top rider having struck earlier on Laurels.

Here Colless settled Seventh Heart in second placing alongside the front-running Looks Like Deano. The favourite Chilli Rock held a watching brief on the leading two as he loped along menacingly in the box seat.

Looks Like Deano found a kick at the top of the straight, but Seventh Heart had that move covered and these two runners joined issue while Chilli Rock switched off the rail, threatening to move into contention. The battle between the leaders was a spirited one though and Chilli Rock seemed to mark time briefly which allowed the duelling dup to get away up front in a battle which would now decide the contest.

Seventh Heart gained a winning advantage coming past the 150m mark and, while Looks Like Deano kept fighting and Chilli Rock closed ground late, their reward was only going to be a consolation prize as Seventh Heart was safely home.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Matthew Dunn (foreman for the Gerald Ryan stable): “Yeah it’s his first go here. He came up from Peter Moody’s about five weeks ago. We’ve got a couple horses for Glenlogan (Park) now and they’re supporting us good, you know. They thought he was struggling a bit down there so they sent him up here for a little bit softer class. I actually thought he was going to need the run today, we weren’t that keen. Yeah, he’s got massive improvement left ... huge ... a lot of improvement.

“Look, we’ll probably just take him through the motions. Go to a Class 3 next start mid-week then go to a Saturday race if he shapes up there. We won’t rush him, give him a couple of easy kills then send him on his way kind of thing.

“I think at this stage he probably doesn’t have to be going much further ... maybe 1200 or maybe 1400. But right now I don’t think there is any necessity to push him much further than he’s going now.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “He began well and put himself outside the leader. He raced a little bit fresh today and he was probably on the wrong leg getting round the circle. I had to half kid to him just to sort of get him around the circle. Once he got into a straight line he knuckled down good. Good effort.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Kratos (R. Wiggins) blundered at the start and shifted out, hampering Hayilinity (A. Merritt). At the 800m, Kratos (R. Wiggins) commenced to over-race and shifted out across the heels of No Arguing (L. Cassidy).

Approaching the 600m, Shadow Within (J. Bowditch) hung out badly and proved difficult to ride and as a result lost valuable ground. Near the 600m, Admiral Deemus (J. Keating) improved up on to the heels of Powerful Sphere (J. Byrne) and when being restrained shifted in and had to be steadied from the heels of Hayilinity.

Approaching the 400m, Admiral Deemus had to be steadied when Hayilinity (A. Merritt), which had a tendency to hang out, shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, Hayilinity then raced greenly when placed under pressure in the home straight.

L. Cassidy, rider of No Arguing, explained that the gelding hung out throughout the race and proved difficult to ride. Trainer J. Aitkenhead will be interviewed with regard to the racing manners of No Arguing. A post-race veterinary examination of No Arguing revealed the gelding to have a small laceration to the off hind fetlock.

A post-race veterinary examination of Shadow Within revealed the gelding to be lame in near-fore fetlock. Trainer S. Hunter was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for the gelding prior to its next race start.