SCST SEPT 20 - CRAIGLEA BELLA IMPROVES IN BLINKERS

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Sunshine Coast, September 20, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2m.
Maiden Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-38.37.
1 Craiglea Bella; 2 Heritage Shadow; 3 Just Lust.

Craiglea Bella had blinkers on for the first time and it appeared to have its impact on her form as she charged home under a determined ride from Lyall Appo to score her breakthrough win in her tenth start.

The filly raced just worse than midfield early ... was up to midfield in the sweep to the bend and then switched out wide on the turn before straightening in seventh placing with daylight offering her a clear run to the line. Just Lust and Dane Raider kicked early to set the target and Appo quickly had Craiglea Bella out chasing the two frontrunners.

In a measured run home, Craiglea Bella got to the front at the 150m but she was kept honest all the way to the line by Just Lust, who kept fighting until weakening the last few strides, and Heritage Shadow who arrived late the scene to claim second placing.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Fleming: “It was a good win over the mile. I think she will probably stick on and run a mile-and-a-quarter. She ran second to Funtantes as an early two-year-old in Brisbane (when finishing 1.80 lengths back over 1200m).

“We’re sort of just trying to find the right races for her as a three-year-old filly. We changed the gear. She was getting too far out of her ground, so we put the blinkers on her to make her more keen.”

Jockey Lyall Appo: “Mate, the instructions were to have her midfield ... yeah, a bit better than midfield. Today she was the first time she had blinkers on and they expected her to race a bit more keenly. We got a beautiful run like from about three deep ... from the 1400m onwards I went over to the fence. We travelled beautiful throughout.

“Coming to the corner, from about the 600 or 700 she started to track into the race. I thought well, you know, I was looking at the horses in front of me to see which one was going to make a move. I thought that my best option was to come wide, so I started to peel and she tracked into the race and made it work out perfectly for me. Really tracked into it coming to the furlong and finished off good.

“The old Appo tradition of riding one here is getting better. Could you say this about this winner today ... last night my daughter gave birth to my second grandchild ... so I want to dedicate this winner to them.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Craiglea Bella): 7.00 out to 9.00.
Favourite (Show Business): 3.00 out to 3.60. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Approaching the 1200m, Frozen Time (M. Wood) hung out badly, resulting in the saddle on that gelding slipping to the off side, placing rider M. Wood at a disadvantage for the remainder of the event. Sunday's Girl (J. Byrne) and Angel Gal (A. Spinks), which were following, had to be checked to avoid the heels of Frozen Time at this point. A post-race veterinary examination of Frozen Time failed to reveal any abnormalities. Trainer R. Bartholdt will be interviewed regarding the racing manners of Frozen Time.

Show Business (M. Cahill) raced three wide in the early stages. Approaching the 600m, Steely Contessa (S. Holcombe) was hampered and taken wider on the track by Frozen Time, whose rider was in difficulties due to the saddle slipping. Near the 500m, Ballasario (J. Letherby) had to be steadied off the heels of Just Lust (R. Hinricks). Rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight, Angel Gal (A. Spinks) was held up when unable to obtain clear running. Dane Raider (K. Sawyers) and Heritage Shadow (A. Pattillo) were inclined to lay in under pressure in the home straight.

Jockey J. Byrne was questioned as to his riding tactics on Sunday's Girl, in particular the reason for him improving around the field in the middle stages before taking the lead near the 800m. J. Byrne explained that Sunday's Girl over-raced badly in the early stages and when checked to avoid the heels of Frozen Time (J. Wood) near the 1200m, he elected to improve as the pace at that time was slow. J. Byrne added that Sunday's Girl weakened badly over the final 500m and was disappointing.

When questioned, M. Cahill, rider Show Business, which performed below expectations, stated that he was obliged to race three wide until nearing the 900m, however the mare failed to respond to his riding rounding the home turn and in the home straight and, in his view, was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination of Show Business failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

A post-race veterinary examination of Steely Contessa failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.