IPSW OCT 22 - APRIL FOLLY ADDS TO PUNTERS WOES

By Graham Potter | Friday, October 23, 2009

Ipswich, October 22, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2.5m
Maiden Plate (Fillies & Mares - Set Weights) - 1350m. Time: 1-21.56.
1 April Folly; 2 Seasons End; 3 Miss Madi.

Those who thought lightning couldn’t strike twice in the same place were turned to charcoal when the Geoff Livermore / Shannon Apthorpe completed a very long-priced race to race double here.

April Folly did the honours this time. Like Tahiti Dream before her, the filly went to the lead, dictated the pace of the race to suit herself before kicking away on straightening. The three-year-old did tire marginally over the last 100m as Seasons End and Miss Madi made hopeful late progress, but April Folly had done enough under a superbly rated ride by Apthorpe to claim her breakthrough win.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Geoff Livermore: “She showed an awful lot ever since we got her. Her first start was at Ipswich and it was a bit of a disaster ... there was a lot of interference. The second run at Coloundra was on the Cushion Track. Didn’t handle it ... nearly died. She got a lung infection after that run. Then she had a long spell. Gave her time and brought her back. She’s got a very high cruising speed.”

Jockey Shannon Apthorpe: “I thought I was travelling probably a little bit better than the first winner (Tahiti Dream who won one race earlier). She really performed well ... got to the front, relaxed for me, come back to me.

“I heard them trying to start to attack me about ... ah, a bit before the 400. I thought I’d try to do the same as I did the last race and pinch a bit of break on the turn. Yeah, just lucky it worked out again I suppose.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Miss Madi was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon behind the barriers and passed fit to start.

Near the 1100m It’s Hayiling Men (P. Gesler), which was over-racing, had to be steadied to avoid the heels of She’s Inspired (D. Griffin), which shifted out when over-racing. D. Griffin the rider of She’s Inspired was advised to exercise greater care to prevent his mounts shifting ground in future. In this incident Seasons End (S. Katsidis) was inconvenienced and forced wider on the track. Zero Suspicion (J. Byrne) pulled hard in the early and middle stages.

Seasons End was inclined to lay out rounding the home turn. Rounding the home turn Twilight Express (R. McMahon) was tightened for room between Zero Suspicion, which shifted out slightly and Passara (J. Taylor), which shifted in under pressure. It’s Hayiling Men raced ungenerously throughout the race.

Trainer G. Livermore was questioned regarding the improved performance of April Folly today. G. Livermore explained that April Folly was resuming from a spell and had worked well leading up to today's race. G. Livermore added that April Folly had not handled the cushion track at the Sunshine Coast prior to being spelled.

R. Wiggins was questioned regarding his riding of Miss Madi in the early stages where he restrained the mare to the rear of the field, which is in contrast to her most recent racing pattern. R. Wiggins explained that after beginning well , rather than being forced to race wide in the early and middle stages, he elected to restrain to the rear of the field. His explanation was noted.

R. McMahon the rider of Twilight Express, which performed below expectations, explained that the mare travelled well however, when placed under pressure rounding the home turn failed to finish the race off as he expected and was disappointing. A post race veterinary examination revealed Twilight Express to have a laceration to the near side knee.

J. Byrne the rider of Zero Suspicion, which performed below market expectations, explained that the mare may not have appreciated racing inside of runners today. Trainer R. Lipp indicated that Zero Suspicion is much better suited when racing on the outside of horses with an uninterrupted run. A post race veterinary examination revealed Zero Suspicion to be lame in the near-hind leg. Trainer R. Lipp was advised to provide a veterinary certificate prior to the horse racing again.

At the completion of this race G. Colless was stood down for the remainder of the day due to illness. G. Colless was advised he must provide a medical clearance before riding again.