IPSW OCT 22 - THREE-IN-A-ROW FOR TONKATSU

By Graham Potter | Friday, October 23, 2009

Ipswich, October 22, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2.5m
Class 4 Handicap - 800m. Time: 45.36.
1 Tonkatsu; 2 Contested Bid; 3 Eagle Jester.

The Helen Page trained Tonkatsu completed a hat-trick of wins when she put in the effort at both ends to secure her fourth win from nine starts.

Jockey Daniel Griffin chased the four-year-old up into second place early, ensuring that she held the rail position after jumping from the number one barrier. Single Bound, who was drawn next to Tonkatsu led by a narrow margin but, once in the home straight, Griffin asked Tonkatsu for her effort and she quickly moved to the head of affairs.

The race was not won yet however. As Single Bound dropped out of contention Contested Bid emerged from the pack as a real danger to the leader. At one stage it appeared as if Contested Bid would gather in Tonkatsu, but the latter refused to give way and she did enough to keep Contested Bid at bay to land her third successive win by a short half-head.

Tonkatsu ($2.30) was the only favourite to salute on the day.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Helen Page: “I’ve given her a little let-up. She went out to Running Creek Stud ... the Pemberton’s (the owners of Tonkatsu) own their own little property and they had her there for three weeks and I brought her back in. I’ve just given her a freshen up. She’s done the job again. She just keeps improving. She’ll get over further, but I don’t need to try that at this stage because she’s going well over the shorter distance.”

Jockey Daniel Griffin: “She’s tough as nails, you know. It was a good effort by her. I had to use her form the alley. She didn’t want to come back underneath me through being a little bit fresh. She kicked on strong in the finish, so she’s got plenty of heart about her.

“I was a bit concerned in the straight, but only because she was first-up. But like I say, she’s tough as nails and she wasn’t going to give up.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Piccolotto (B. El-Issa) was slow to begin and then trailed the field throughout the race. A post race veterinary examination revealed Piccolotto to have tendonitis of the off-fore leg. Trainer P. Pengelly was advised that Piccolotto must compete in an official trial prior to racing again in what stewards deemed to be an unsatisfactory performance. P. Pengelly would also be required to obtain a veterinary certificate of fitness for Piccolotto prior to the horse racing again.

Rounding the home turn, Craze Woman (App M. Milford) faulted and became unbalanced and shifted out across the heels of Martha’s Vineyard (C. Reith).

Passing the 200m Contested Bid (S. Bayliss) shifted out making contact with Martha’s Vineyard, which shifted out resulting in Eagle Jester (B. Pengelly) shifting out and away making heavy contact with Crazy Woman. S. Bayliss the rider of Contested Bid was advised to make a greater effort in future to keep his mounts on a straight course.

Jockey A. Spinks the rider of Single Bound explained that the gelding failed to respond to his riding in the straight and was disappointing.

C. Reith the rider of Marth’s Vineyeard explained that the mare is best suited when leading in races however, over the short distance of today's race it was unable to muster the early speed to cross to the lead. C. Reith added that Martha’s Vineyard would be better suited over races of 1000m or further.