EF OCT 17 - BEARTRACKER ON THE RIGHT PATH

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, October 19, 2009

Eagle Farm, October 17, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m.
Class 6 Plate - 2200m. Time: 2.15.95.
1 Beartracker; 2 Body Double; 3 Justin Case.

The Robert Heathcote trained Beartracker had no early luck from his wide draw with jockey Larry Cassidy unable to find a way to save ground in the early part, but, by halfway through the contest Beartracker was comfortable enough in midfield racing without cover outside the favourite Body Double.

Cassidy, confident in his mount’s staying ability, made an early forward move. He switched Beartracker out four wide into clear running on the turn and continued with the run, pushing clear early in the straight and inviting the opposition to enter into the chase.

Body Double did that, as did Justin Case and Hooray Tobey, but none of these runners had the fire-power required to shoot down Beartracker who stayed on well to claim the sixth win of his career.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “The horse deserved it. He’s been bloody stiff. The fact that he’s had twelve seconds the odd comment was made that he’s a bit of a non-winner, but he’s not really because he just hasn’t had a lot of luck. Young Mitchell Speers has ridden him for five seconds and they really haven’t been bad rides. He just hasn’t had the luck when he needed it.

I went with Larry Cassidy today and you just see the quality of the ride. He just seems to get ... his timing is so good. You get that with Larry. So, yeah, very happy.

“That’s the race we’ve been after all along, that 2400m handicap in a couple weeks ... the C.B. Barnes (on November 21 at Eagle Farm). That 2400m race is the one I’ve always had in mind for him. He looks like he’ll get the 2400m. He’s no superstar, but he’s honest and as I said, you know, the twelve seconds are not because he’s a non-trier, but because he’s bumped into some nice horses - like that good stayer of Bevan Laming (Crossthestart). We’re happy enough.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “I had the option to come back early. I just didn’t really want to. You know, give them too much start ... these sort of horses aren’t good enough to make up that much ground. He’s shown in the past that he is a perennial bridesmaid and I thought, I’d prefer to take my chance. If I didn’t get in I would have gone forward but as it turned out I got a lovely run.

“I was comfortable with going to the lead after the straight because, you know, he’s had to chase horses down and hasn’t been able to do that and I thought, well today they can try to chase you down, you know ... let him see the front for once and the winning post clearly.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Beartracker): 4.00 out to 4.40.
Favourite (Body Double): 3.00 in to 2.80. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Eton Hall (K. Pope) was slow to begin. Both Beartracker (L. Cassidy) and Brilliant Ween (A. Spinks) raced wide in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, Beartracker (L. Cassidy) and Super Wonton (D. Craven) were tightened for room between Hooray Tobey (B. El-Issa) and Brilliant Ween, which shifted in. A. Sprinks, rider of Brilliant Ween, was reprimanded and advised to allow sufficient room for his fellow riders in future.

J. Taylor reported that Body Double was a little one paced in its effort in the early stages of the straight and would be better suited over 2400m. J. Byrne reported that Justin Case laid in throughout the event and, in his opinion, did not appreciate the firm surface today.

Post race veterinary examinations of Brilliant Ween (A. Spinks) and Prince Teklesto (K. Wharton), which tired over the concluding stages, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

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