IPSW SEPT 17 - TOO EASY FOR KISS KISS

By Graham Potter | Saturday, September 19, 2009

Ipswich, September 17, 2009.
Track - Good. Rail - out 7.5m.
Maiden Handicap (Fillies & Mares) - 1350m. Time: 1-21.63.
1 Kiss Kiss; 2 Bejeka; 3 Another Journey.

Kiss Kiss had little difficulty in landing her first career win here. The mare raced briefly in midfield but the pace was such that jockey Glen Colless soon had the five-year-old sitting just off the speed on the rail. A marginal shift out into clear running and a simple request from Colless for Kiss Kiss to lengthen her stride was enough to settle the issue as Kiss Kiss put daylight between herself and her opposition to race home to a clear-cut victory.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Jim Atkins: “It’s time she won. She is lightly raced. I got her from Cummings in Sydney. She was a bit touchy. It took us a while to get her going, but she won well today. The step up to 1350m helped and so did the good jockey (Glen Colless). That’s the main thing.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “Yeah, she got in the right race today and 1350 suited it. It’s got a bit of a habit at the moment ... doesn’t want to get going early. It didn’t begin that good, but sort of mustered enough speed without me really having to ride her along. Just got a nice run after that.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When questioned, trainer J. Atkins advised that it was his intention to have Kiss Kiss ridden in a midfield position today with cover, which was in contrast to its most recent start at Ipswich on 10 September where the mare was ridden back in the field. An announcement to this effect was made prior to race 1. Subsequently, after being a little slow to begin, Kiss Kiss settled in a handy position on the rails.

Kiss Kiss, which was kicked behind the barriers, was examined by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to race. The start was delayed when Margrethe became momentarily cast in the barriers. Margrethe was also examined by the veterinary surgeon and cleared to start.

Near the 1000m, Bejeka (R. Goltz), which was inclined to hang in, shifted in and away from Danish Liner (P. Hammersley), which also shifted in slightly, which resulted in Margrethe(L. Rolls) being tightened for room and striking the running rail. As a result, Divic Fire (J. Wood) and French Cadet (M. Cahill), which were following, were hampered and shifted out wider on the track. Wicked Whispers (B. Pengelly) was inclined to lay out rounding the home turn and shifted out, which enabled Kiss Kiss to obtain a run to that mare's inside. El Fantasy (M. Heagney) and Grace The Wind (A. Badger) raced wide throughout.