DOOM SEPT 26 - FORESTRENO SNARES BURDEKIN BLUES

By Graham Potter | Monday, September 28, 2009

Doomben, September 26, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3.5m.
Open Handicap - 1020m.Time: 58.15.
1 Forestreno; 2 Burdekin Blues; 3 Sequallan.

Trainer Phil McLeod’s old warhorse Forestreno showed great resolve when getting to the line strongly to snare the short-priced favourite Burdekin Blues in the very last stride.

The eight-year-old gave the speedy, front-running Burdekin Blues some seven to eight lengths start in the straight and it was a very long chase. The result became a possibility when Forestreno found an extra gear passing the 200m mark, but it was still a big ask as Burdekin Blues was still kicking on with meaning at this time.

Inside the final 100m and Forestreno’s ability was now being backed by a firm commitment that he would not go down wondering and the gelding closed up fast on Burdekin Blues and the two runners flashed through the line together. The photo showed Forestreno had got to the line first - that was the first time he was in front - and thus he came back to the enclosure as a twelve-time winner form 51 starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Phil McLeod: “Yeah, I thought he’d won on the line. We gave him a little freshener since last time. Before that he’s been racing regularly and I didn’t want to go to the well too many times. So we freshened him up. I thought he was good. I just couldn’t work out the price. We’ll just go home and re-group now and then see where we go next.”

Jockey Michael Cahill: “When we hit the line, if anything, I thought the inside horse (Burdekin Blues) may have held on, to be honest. My horse is a good, honest horse. He’s proven himself hasn’t he?

“I’d never had a ride for (trainer) Phil McLeod before today so I was pleased to be able to win my first one for him. It panned out exactly as he said. He said, he is a good beginner and then he likes to find his feet and he can finish off hard. That’s exactly what he did!”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Jockey L. Cassidy reported that Burdekin Blues jumped away awkwardly.

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