DOOM OCT 07 - FLAXEN BELLE HAS HER DAY

By Graham Potter | Friday, October 9, 2009

Doomben, October 07, 2009
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 8m.
Maiden Handicap (Fillies & Mares) - 1200m: Time: 1-11.12.
1 Flaxen Belle; 2 Seasons End; 3 Sunshine Lass.

The Barry Baldwin trained Flaxen Belle, who had served up a mix of some hopeful form and some ordinary efforts in her seven starts prior to this outing, came good here under a aggressive ride from jockey Stathi Katsidis.

Flaxen Belle landed in the leading line and Katsidis was happy to let Hallside Magic chase to the front while he settled the filly in second spot. As Hallside Magic went on strongly in the sweep to the turn, Katsidis revved up his mount, making sure he stayed in touch with the frontrunner and he was close enough to claim the inside line as the field straightened for home.

Flaxen Belle quickly took the measure of Hallside Magic, who tired and dropped away. Sunshine Lass loomed as a threat and was a constant menace all the way to the line but Flaxen Belle did enough to have her covered, while Season’s End finished with a rattle after taking a long time to get the message in the straight. The latter’s effort was good enough to claim second place, but it was Flaxen Belle who carried the day.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “She’s just a bit of bad luck in a couple of races. We know she is not a star, but she is an honest little thing.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed when J. Byrne was dislodged from Red Dawn behind the barrier stalls. J. Byrne was examined by the ambulance officers and was cleared to fulfil his engagement.

Paper Tigress (M. Helyer) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground. Seasons End (L. Cassidy) was slow to begin. Hallside Magic (M. Speers) jumped away awkwardly. Hallside Magic commenced to over-race near the 1000m and continued to race ungenerously, obliging its rider to allow it to improve around the field to the leading position near the 600m.

Approaching the 800m, La Fille Du Roi (M. Cahill) had to be steadied when tightened for room by Pink Saphire (G. Colless), which shifted in. Paper Tigress, which was following, also had to be steadied as a consequence. La Fille Du Roi over-raced at the heels of Seasons End until near the 600m. A post race veterinary examination of Paper Tigress failed to reveal any abnormalities.

L. Cassidy, rider of Seasons End, was reprimanded under 137A(5)(i) for using his whip in successive strides before the 100m. AR137A(5)(ii). L. Cassidy was also reprimanded for using his whip on six occasions before the 100m.