SCST OCT 11 - SHEBEARNI’S STUBBORN VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sunshine Coast, October 11, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 6m.
Maiden Handicap (4yo and up) - 1200m. Time: 1-14.14.
1 Shebearni; 2 Bella Heritage; 3 Miss Madi.

Trainer Pat Duff is the first to point out that Shebearni is a difficult customer. She is a big mare with an attitude and she is not shy to throw her weight around as the handlers at the start can attest to.

But there are two positives in her makeup. Firstly, she has some ability. Secondly, when her stubbornness is directed towards a positive cause, it is an asset ... such as when absolutely refusing to allow other horses to pass her in the home straight - as was the case here.

After playing up at the start, Shebearni jumped into an immediate lead. Nessun Dorma kept her company in second place until the turn, but by the time Shebearni chased past the 200m mark, she had a wall of runners snapping at her heels trying to peg back her advantage. Sebearni refused to falter and kept kicking to keep all of those who had been close to her at bay.

The fast finishing Bella Heritage, who had been back in midfield turning for home, produced a late rally along the inside running rail to get within 0.20 lengths of the winner, but, true to her nature, Shebearni was not to be denied and her first win was safely in the bank.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “She is a handful. She is a very obstinate sort of a mare. Her attitude is not right, but she has ability.

“She needs a bit of galloping room and this is a bigger track than she got last time. Actually, it’s a funny thing, I wouldn’t have expected her to lead on her pattern of racing ... but she sort of caught the start a bit. Probably in a way she was back to front being in front, do you know what I mean? Still, I’d rather be there where she is comfortable.

“She did have a long time out (from December 08 to September 09). She went very shin-sore as a young horse. The people who own her decided to just put her away and give her plenty of time. I think she is probably limited, but she has won one now anyway.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed due to Shebearni (K. Pope) proving difficult to load. Frisco’s Diamond (K. James), which began awkwardly, was further tightened for room between Chennai (B. Stewart) and Miss Madi (R. Wiggins), which shifted in. Shortly after the start, Firewalker (A. Spinks) was tightened for room when racing between Chennai (B. Stewart) and Bears’sagun (M. Hellyer), both of which shifted ground. Near the 800m, Bear’sagun shifted in and made contact with the running rail.

Passing the 700m, Carry On Dancer (K. Sawyers) improved up on to the heels of Shrewd Hostess (D. Craven) and shifted out and had to be steadied off the heels of that horse, forcing Boogeemac (C. Reith) wider on the track. Carry On Dancer again had to be steadied off the heels of Shrewd Hostess leaving the 600m. Nessun Dorma (S. Kennedy) made the turn at the 800m awkwardly and shifted out.

A. Pattillo, rider of Bella Heritage, reported his mount was accidentally struck by the whip of K. Pope, rider of Shebearni, approximately 50 metres from the finish. Boogeemac raced wide for the majority of the event.

Stewards questioned trainer P. Duff and jockey K. Pope regarding the tactics adopted on Shebearni today where the horse led as compared with the previous tactics adopted on Shebearni this campaign.

Mr Duff explained he gave no specific instructions to K. Pope other than to allow the horse to settle in a position where it was comfortable. K. Pope confirmed the instructions and explained that due to the lack of pace in the early stages he progressed forward, when enabled him to obtain a position in the lead. Stewards noted the explanation.