EF SEPT 19 - OUTER POLE TOO STRONG FOR HER RIVALS

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Eagle Farm. September 19, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 6m.
NMW Handicap - 1830m. Time: 1-53.82.
1 Outer Pole; 2 Just A Classic; 3 Yield Curve.

After finishing second last time out, the Brett Dodson trained Outer Pole went one better here when she outgunned his rivals with a strong, committed run in the home straight.

That challenge was launched from off the pace after jockey Larry Cassidy had settled Outer Pole at the rear of the field in the early part (in a slow run affair) before switching the mare out wide and improving her position in the sweep to the turn. At this stage Just A Classic was tracking Outer Pole’s every move and when Outer Pole straightened in fifth placing, four wide, Just A Classic was hard on her heels.

When Cassidy gave Outer Pole the green light to extend her stride in the straight she took off with meaning to surge into the lead, but she was still towing Just A Classic along behind her and the race soon came down to the question of whether Just A Classic could make any inroads into Outer Poles advantage. As it was, Outer Pole never faltered and she kept going all the way to the line to secure a well-earned victory.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brett Dodson: “Yeah, she was a bit unlucky last start. The smaller field probably suited her. It all went to plan today. I think the 1800m trip is ideal for her. Anything over that and they probably sit and sprint a bit too much for her and anything under that they go a little bit quick. Especially here with the good, long run-in I was happy with the 1800 today.

“I haven’t really looked for another race for her yet. She’s been up that long. I’ve thought every run could be her last run this time in, so I haven’t really planned ahead. I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself. She’s won today. I’ll take her home and have a look the next two or three weeks. It all depends how she pulls up. If there is something suitable, yes. If there’s nothing she can go for a break.

“This time of year you really look towards Brisbane. (Dodson is based at Coffs Harbour). It’s a bit tough down south so, yeah, you come up here. There’s not very big fields and good prize-money.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “She’s been racing in good form. She only got beat a couple of lengths in the Coffs Harbour Cup.

“From the draw today we thought we would just drop back, but she actually wanted to race a bit fierce. She wanted to race a bit fiercely in the first little bit, but I thought I would just drag her back to the fence. Then I was happy to pop out three deep from the 750 ... 800 and follow the horse with cover, and I thought, that gets me close enough to the turn if she’s good enough.

“She travelled nicely into the straight and I just waited. She let down well when I asked her. Just A Classic tried to come at her but I was always confident we would hold him off.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Outer Pole): 3.00 out to 3.90.
The winner was the favourite.

Trainer B. Dodson was fined $100 for failing to present the Document of Description for Outer Pole. The Cavern Club (C. McIver) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground. Approaching the first turn, The Cavern Club commenced to over-race and shifted out, taking Three Tenors (S. Apthorpe) wider on the track. The Cavern Club then continued to over-race obliging its rider to improve forward to the leading position. Three Tenors (S. Apthorpe) raced wide throughout.

Jockey C. McIver, rider of The Cavern Club, explained that he had been told by trainer B. Miller if the horse jumped to try and take up a position somewhere towards the front but with cover, however if The Cavern Club happened to miss the start, he was to take up a position somewhere towards the middle but again with cover. He added that The Cavern Club reared on two occasions before the gates opened and just as they opened was beginning to rear again and therefore missed the start. He further stated that he endeavoured to find a position somewhere towards the middle of the field but The Cavern Club proved very difficult for him to manage and he was unable to find any cover and had to go forward. He said he tried to find a position behind Paralegal but was unable to do so, and he considered, in the circumstances, he had no alternative but to allow The Cavern Club to stride to the front.

L. Rolls, rider of Thin And Crispy, explained that in the early part of the straight he was awkwardly placed between Paralegal (M. Speers) and The Cavern Club (C. McIver) where he had hoped to obtain running, however this did not eventuate and had to shift out in an endeavour to go forward. He further stated that he did obtain running however Thin And Crispy did not close off the race as he thought it would.