SCST OCT 11 - EASY DEBUT WIN FOR TIERQUALO

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sunshine Coast, October 11, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 6m.
3yo QTIS Maiden Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-12.11.
1 Tierqualo; 2 Clancy's Mountain; 3 Toptwo.

The Kelly Doughty trained Tierqualo scored a facile debut win here.

The grey landed in the lead, but then went back to settle third on the rail as Clancy’s Mountain went out to set the early target. The leader was still going well on straightening and Tierqualo was the only runner able to go with Clancy’s Mountain when the gelding kicked for home as the rest of the field dropped out of contention.

Clancy’s Mountain made Tierqualo work to make up the leeway, but jockey Jason Holder kept the three-year-old focussed on the task at hand. Tierqualo gradually began to reel in the frontrunner before taking control inside the final 100m to go on to win by 1.30 lengths. The third placed runner, Toptwo, was a full 3.80 lengths back, underlining the winners’ superiority on the day.

Jockey Jason Holder's name was on the scoreboard again in only his fourth ride back following a ten month injury enforced layoff. (See separate story - The welcome return of Jason Holder).

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Doughty: “Yeah, he’s been working a treat. We’ve given him plenty of time. We’ve had him in a couple of preps and put him back out. We actually bred him. He comes from the mare we own, Tiercette. All of the family have been winners and he gives every indication he is a nice horse in the making.

“He jumps really good for a fairly big horse. He’s actually got a bit of pace and we just said to Jason (Holder), you know, ride him like he is travelling. It was Jason’s first win back. We are actually a fairly good combination Jason and myself. We normally give him a winner here and there. It’s good to have him back. He is a great guy.”

Jockey Jason Holder: “The race worked out well. I wasn’t always confident that I had the leader covered, but I was just hoping. I sort of went for my horse earlier than he did ... he was still travelling and when I went for mine. But my horse is a good staying horse and he got the job done.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
The start of this race was delayed due to Tierquala proving difficult to load. Trainer K. Doherty was advised that a warning was being placed on Tierqualo regarding its barrier manners. Get Uppity (B. Stewart) was slow to begin. Billie Blue Gum (J. Byrne) began awkwardly and shifted out, making contact with Neversayit’seasy (S. Katsidis). Ponzi Scheme (G. Geran) also began awkwardly.

Near the 800m, Neversaidit’seasy shifted in, making contact with the running rail. Passing the 600m, Ponzi Scheme (G. Geran) improved up on to the heels of Toptwo (M. Hellyer) and had to be steadied and shift wider on the track.

Leaving the 300m, Master Winner (L. Rolls) was inconvenienced when momentarily crowded for room by Billie Blue Gum (J. Byrne), which was inclined to lay in pressure in the straight and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. Billie Blue Gum (J. Byrne) was inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight. Pure Diva (K. Pope) raced wide for the majority of the event.

A post-race veterinary examination of Ponzi Scheme had sustained a laceration to its near-side shoulder. Trainer M. Kropp was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Ponzi Scheme prior to its next race start.