RAND SEPT 26 - MCCLINTOCK GRADUATES TO GROUP 3 GLORY

By HRO | Monday, September 28, 2009

Randwick, September 26, 2009.
Track - Good. Rail - True.
Bill Richie Handicap (Group 3) - 1400m. Time: 1-23.51.
1 McClintock; 2 Walking Or Dancing; 3 Faulconbridge.

Former top-line jockey Mark De Montfort secured his first Group winner as a trainer when McClintock was handed the Bill Ritchie Handicap.

After coming from the outside barrier, Glyn Schofield took McClintock straight to the front where he was able to get away with a very easy lead. With nothing challenging the lead Schofield was able to get McClintock to relax and made it nearly impossible for anything to come from behind him to win.

Runner up Walking Or Dancing charged home late to go down narrowly while both Purple and Cullen Castle ran well and should be in the money shortly.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mark De Montfort: " It's been hard work with him because he tries probably too hard in the middle of his races, but Glyn rode him beautiful so it was great. It is fantastic. He was my first Randwick winner and now my first Group winner.

“I don't miss the riding, I think I hoed down two hotdogs before the race today, so I feel pretty good ... and it’s good satisfaction with results like this."

Jockey Glyn Schofield: "The actual key is not to get him switched on. He's a very easy horse to switch on. If you want him to you just sort of move a little bit and he is on his way, but I think the field were allowing him to dictate things in front because it's really tough to win out in front today with the strong wind ... credit to the horse he's done well.

“He gave me a good ride, you know. He always felt like he was in control of the race when he came back underneath me. Coming over the rise I asked him to go and he gave me a good kick.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Bryannbo's Gift knuckled over badly on jumping away and in so doing shifted out and hampered Snow Alert. Innings jumped away awkwardly. Inside the 100m Equable had to be steadied off the heels of Ivory Pegasus, which shifted in slightly. When questioned, C Brown, rider of Ivory Pegasus, stated that it had not been the intention to ride the mare in a forward position today, but that the horse had been inclined to over-race in its recent starts.

When questioned, J Cassidy stated that Bryannbo's Gift pulled hard throughout the middle stages of the race and was a beaten horse on the home turn. A post race veterinary examination of Bryannbo's Gift revealed the horse to be displaying a poor post race recovery and an elevated heart rate. Trainer Ms A Ruttley was advised she must produce a veterinary clearance for Bryannbo's Gift prior to its next start.