EF SEPT 30 - BEARHUG SMOTHERS THEM

By Graham Potter | Thursday, October 1, 2009

Eagle Farm, September 30, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 11.5m.
Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 2238m. Time: 2-23.49.
1 Bearhug; 2 Loves A Vino; 3 Sassafras Boy.

The Robert Bradshaw trained Bearhug prevailed by a short-half-head after a stride for stride battle with Loves A Vino over the concluding stages.

Jockey Kenne Sawyers slotted the gelding into sixth spot on the rail early and he was content to hold that spot, saving ground, on the sweep to the turn. Bearhug straightened in fifth place, just off the speed. As the leaders strayed towards the outside Sawyers elected to take the shortest way home and started to make up ground along the inside rail. At the same time Loves A Vino also began to let down well. The latter quickly made up ground and went back to the inside.

As the others began to falter, Bearhug and Loves A Vino joined issue to fight out the finish in a battle which went all the way to the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Bradshaw: “The horse was running badly up north, being beaten by many lengths in his races. I had his half-brother, a horse called Next In Line and I knew he was too well bred not to be a winner, so I just backed my own judgement to get him going.

“He (jockey Keene Sawyers) rode him the other day. I had three in one race and I said to Keene, you get on this horse and if you do the right thing you can ride him in town ... and that’s why Keene was on it.”

Bearhug was jockey Keene Sawyers’ first city winner since September 2000. The rider explains the long wait between drinks.

Jockey Keene Sawyers: “I gave riding away. I just got sick of it. I bought a roadhouse, then I bought a concrete business and had that for a few years. Then I thought, should I start riding a bit of work and I got some of the hunger back and got back into it, yeah.

“The race went just as I wanted it to. I wanted to be in there behind the leaders somewhere running four or five lengths off them. He is just a fit old horse and he will go one pace all day, you know. It just worked out. When Michael Cahill went through (on Moon Piggy) I just followed him through. When he died, I just kept going.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Bearhug): 16.00 out to 26.00
Favourite (Sassafras Boy): 2.30 into 2.20 out to 2.25.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
At the request of jockey S. Drake correct weight was delayed to view the stewards footage to ascertain whether Pure Act, which reared as the start was effected losing valuable ground, had been denied an opportunity of jumping with the field. Whilst viewing the film S. Drake agreed that the horse had been afforded the opportunity of jumping with the field despite being assisted by an attendant. Correct weight was declared on the judge's placings. The connections of Pure Act were advised that a warning would be issued concerning the horse's behaviour in the barriers.

Bearhug (K. Sawyers) jumped in at the start and brushed Viscount Express (App S. Bogenhuber).

Bangers ‘N’ Mash (App O. Turpin) was caught three wide after the start and raced three wide until crossing to assume a position outside the leader near the 1100m.

A post race veterinary examination of Viscount Express revealed the gelding had pulled up lame in the near fore-leg having sustained a tendon injury. Trainer B. Robinson was advised that he must provide a veterinary certificate for Viscount Express before the horse again races. Sassafras Boy (D. Browne) cast its off-hind plate in running.

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