IPSW SEPT 17 - FIERY LAD BURNS OFF OPPPOSITION

By Graham Potter | Saturday, September 19, 2009

Ipswich, September 17, 2009.
Track - Good. Rail - out 7.5m.
Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 800m. Time: 45.73. (New Class Record)
1 Fiery Lad; 2 Orbital Miss; 3 Fastpeony.

The Eden Petrie trained Fiery Lad scored a no-nonsense, breakthrough win in only his second career start.

The gelding’s gate-speed quickly carried him into the leading line and the four-year-old was in front after the field had gone 200m. Orbital Miss had also come out full of running and she refused to go away, but Fiery Lad always had her measure and he maintained a strong gallop to the line to win with 1.80 lengths to spare.

Fiery Lad’s race time of 45.73 lowered a Class Record which has stood for seventeen years. It beat the 45.90 seconds posted by Kellina Downs back in June 1993.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Eden Petrie: “Look, I’ve always had an opinion of this horse. He’s got a lot of speed. Unfortunately that day (on debut back in February) we just happen to strike a heavy track. Prior to that, you know, he’d been nominated and we’d had to scratch due to heavy tracks, so we needed to give him a run. We tipped him out straight after that race. As you can see, he’s come back good.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer P. Sexton was fined $100 for failing to submit a gear change for My Mollie Mia by the prescribed time. Stewards allowed My Mollie Mia to carry a tongue-tie for the first time. Munster Province reared as the start was effected and lost considerable ground. Trainer F. Adams was advised that he would be required to obtain two barrier test certificates for the gelding before Munster Province is permitted to race again.

Goodtimegirls (A. Badger) was slow to begin. Marine Gardens (D. Craven) jumped away awkwardly, resulting in jockey D. Craven becoming momentarily unbalanced in the saddle. Lightning Blue (S. Bogenhuber), Coz He Wants To (P. Wolfgram) and Marine Gardens (D. Craven) raced wide throughout the race.

D. Craven was questioned regarding his riding of Marine Gardens in today's race, D. Craven explained that his mount began well and he was obliged to race wide until rounding the home turn, and then in the straight he was unable to fully test the filly due to Marine Gardens racing greenly. He added he was momentarily inconvenienced near the 200m when Marine Gardens shifted away from Mighty Slam (C. Eaton), which shifted in under pressure. Stewards noted D. Craven's explanation however he was reminded of his obligations under the rules to report to stewards as soon as practicable any occurrence in a race that may have had an effect on the performance of his horse.