EF SEPT 30 - THE BEAST JUST HOLDS ON

By Graham Potter | Thursday, October 1, 2009

Eagle Farm, September 30, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 11.5m.
Class 4 Handicap - 1500m. Time: 1-29.64.
1 The Beast; 2 Loves A Challenge; 3 He's Some Eagle.

Trainer Alan Bailey’s completed race to race wins when The Beast lasted just long enough to hold off the faster finishing Loves A Challenge.

The two Bailey winners could not have won in more contrasting styles. Opportunist had scored a big come from behind win in the race before The Beast took centre stage while the latter scored an end to end win, albeit when holding on by a narrow margin.

Before the race it was announced at the track that connections wanted The Beast ridden forward, but they hardly anticipated that the gelding would stride six lengths clear of the second placed runner mid-race. The Beast remained in command until the final 150m where his early effort started to take its toll, but he had broken the field up so badly that Loves A Challenge was the only runner close enough to threaten the long-time leader.

Loves A Challenge closed ground with every stride over the final 75m, but the post arrived just in time for The Beast to cling on to claim his third victory in his eighth start.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Alan Bailey: “Well, I didn’t want him that far in front early, but we did want him to lead. When he got there he just went too strong. His work is about ten times better than his racing, you know. He sort of gets lost in the field so I thought, well, just let him go out and lead.

“We had him in a 1400m last week, down a class, and he would have just been winning with this young fellow on him. Because we missed that meeting I had to chuck him up in grade and go to the 1500m. He’ll be a Saturday horse. He’s got plenty of ability. He has just to learn.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (The Beast): 4.20 in to 3.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer A. Bailey advised stewards that it was his intention that The Beast be ridden forward today. An announcement to this effect was made by the course broadcaster.

Stewards questioned trainer L. Paton in relation to Khairesprit being presented on course approximately 20 minutes late. Stewards accepted the explanation tendered by L. Paton.

Pleasure Time (J. Taylor) was slow to jump. Costa Mucho (J. Byrne) was held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight. Near the 200m Loves A Challenge (S. Galloway) was inclined to lay in under pressure and brushed He’s Some Eagle (R. Wiggins).

S. Galloway the rider of Loves A Challenge pleaded guilty to a charge under AR137A(5)(a)(ii) in that he used the whip on more than 5 occasions prior to the 100m. S. Galloway was fined the sum of $400.00

Following the disappointing performance of Khairesprit trainer L. Paton advised it was her intention to spell the horse.