SCST SEPT 18 - AL FAWSI IN SOLID FIRST-UP WIN

By Graham Potter | Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sunshine Coast, September 18, 2009.
Cushion Track.
Class 4 Handicap - 1000m. Time: 1-00.19.
1 Al Fawzi; 2 Belboah; 3 Gallant Pilot.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Stewart MacKinnon: “He loves it here. I think it’s his third win on the Cushion Track. It’s the first time he’s ever won first-up though.

“Look, I thought they’d go a lot quicker early. I thought he would be running fourth, maybe one off the fence and let the speed go. I was a bit worried about his condition, you know. So I was a bit worried when he was up outside them three wide. But she (apprentice jockey Siobhan Kennedy) used her initiative. I did say, I don’t like dragging horses back over a 1000m. I said, have him where’s he’s comfortable. Then she went early in the straight so she obviously knew what she had under her.”

Apprentice jockey Siobhan Kennedy: “He’s jumped the gates well. I was caught three wide most of the way which didn’t help me much. But I couldn’t go to the front. I had to save him a little bit and I didn’t want to get too far back either ... and just as I’ve came around the corner, because I had to wait for him to straighten up before I asked him, he just put his ears back and stretched out. He just wanted it really. He was ready for it and up for it.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Brain Explosion (I. Coombes) was tightened for room on jumping away between Al Fawzi (S. Kennedy) and Belboah (M. Hellyer), which shifted out. Best Of Ceedee (R. Goltz) was slow to begin. Winlana (K. Sawyers) raced extremely wide throughout.

When asked to explain the seemingly disappointing performance of Best Of Ceedee, R. Goltz stated that he obtained a good run in the early and middle stages, however when placed under pressure near the 700m, the horse failed to respond to his riding. Trainer P. Sexton was in agreement that the horse was disappointing and it was his opinion that the horse did not seem comfortable on today's track surface. P. Sexton advised stewards that he would report to stewards any abnormalities with Best Of Ceedee that become apparent in the days following the race. A post-race veterinary examination of Best Of Ceedee failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

When questioned as to the seemingly improved performance of Al Fawzi, trainer S. Mackinnon stated that the horse had benefited from a let up and at its previous start on July 8 the horse did not handle the rain affected track. Mr Mackinnon added that the gelding performed at its best on the cushion track where it had previously been successful. The explanation was noted.

Kennedy