SCST SEPT 18 - CHRISTARK SCORES WELL-JUDGED VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sunshine Coast, September 18, 2009.
Cushion Track.
Maiden Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-27.90.
1 Christark; 2 First Lieutenant; 3 Check The Chips.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall: “It was her third run on the Cushion track in four starts. It’s just the way it’s worked out. I don’t dodge the Cushion Track. If there’s a race for her, we’re going.

“Her run at Ipswich the other day (when third behind Shadows ‘N’ Stars over 1350m) was terrific. She probably should have run second. She was just a bit baulky ... wouldn’t go through underneath one ... and the horse that won the race I think has got a fair bit of ability. So we expected her to be hard to beat here today.

“She probably looking for a mile. All she wanted to do was settle today. So, you know, she’s promising. No world-beater but she’s promising.”

Jockey Damian Browne: “I was a little bit worried when I got further back than I thought I would be. I aniticipated box seating. She’s shown a little bit of speed in her previous two runs, but they went pretty quick and so I was probably a spot further back than I anticipated.

“Like I say, they went pretty quick. She got a pretty good run through them. There was probably a run either side of Jimmy Byrne (on First Lieutenant) whichever way I wanted to go so I never really concerned ... it was just which one I wanted. She’s going to get a little bit better over a bit more ground, I think.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As D. Griffin was injured, B. Pengelly was substituted as the rider of Check The Chips. Check The Leader began awkwardly and lost ground. Morant's Vision (K. Pope) was tightened for room at the start between Henzelite (K.Sawyers) and Piccone (M.Radecker) when both horses shifted ground.

Near the 100m, First Lieutenant (J. Byrne) and Christark (D. Browne) came together and made contact resulting in First Lieutenant becoming unbalanced. Leaving the 100m, M. Hellyer, rider of Mr Daybreak, dropped his near-side rein, which placed him at a disadvantage in riding his mount right to the finish line. First Lieutenant (J. Byrne), Verre Elite (A. Pattillo) and Mr Daybreak (M. Hellyer) raced wide throughout.