DOOM OCT 24 - HEART OF THE CITI IN PULSATING FORM

By Graham Potter | Monday, October 26, 2009

Doomben, October 24, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Quality Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-18.74.
1 Heart Of The Citi; 2 Rasmussen; 3 Mitanni.

The Pat Duff trained Heart Of The Citi is racing in a rich vein of form and he was good enough to land his second successive win (and his third win from his last four starts) when outgunning g Rasmussen in the home straight, edging away late to score by a comfortable 1.30 length margin.

Jockey Michael Cahill settled Heart Of The Citi in the box seat as Rasmussen led Our Lukas early. When Rasmussen tried to kick away on straightening, he shifted off the rail. That marginal move offered Heart Of The Citi a clear run to the line without having to go around a horse.

Cahill pushed Heart Of The up to take advantage of the gap and he quickly moved up to dispute the lead with Rasmussen. These two runners pulled away from the opposition and matched motors for much of the straight before Heart Of The Citi asserted himself to get to the lead at the 100m. Once in front, he edged away in concluding stages to score with something in hand.

Third placed Mitanni must also be given due credit. The John Wallace trained ten-year-old carried 2kg more than Heart Of The Citi, who is half his age, and still managed a highly creditable showing by finishing in third spot 2.60 lengths behind the winner.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “He was out a long time. He had chips taken out of his knees prior to this preparation and it took him quite a time to get back into race fitness. He is the type of horse that needs racing.

“The cards fell exactly the way we wanted with Rasmussen going across and us getting the sit. We’ve always just wanted to park him, but it’s never worked that way. Today it did. I was very happy coming to the 600m I can tell you. They have run a bit of time, but I was surprised that there wasn’t any real major pressure from the back-markers, you know.

“I’ll just have to make a few little decisions, but I’ll suggest he has a little bit of time off now and then we’ll definitely go for the Triple Crown over the summer.”

Jockey Michael Cahill: “Yeah, he began well and had a lovely run. He was always nice and relaxed behind the leader. Once it (the leader) sort of rolled off around the turn ... he came back in again, so it was a bit tight for a couple of strides, but once Heart Of The Citi got his head into the run he was never going to get beat. He had things made to order today. It was a good win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Heart Of The Citi): 5.50 out to 6.00 in to 5.00.
Favourite (Strats Flyer): 2.70 out to 3.00 in to 2.90. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Vocalic (J. Taylor) had to be steadied shortly after the start when tightened for room between Eleda (R. Wiggins) and Rasmussen (G. Colless), which shifted out. Humma (R. McMahon) was slow to begin. Approaching the 800m, Our Lukas (B. Pengelly) and Humma (R. McMahon) over-raced for a short distance. Humma (R. McMahon) was held up and unable to improve rounding the home turn. Eleda (R. Wiggins) and Sam’s Express (L. Cassidy) raced wide throughout.

S. Katsidis, rider of Strat’s Flyer, explained that he had been instructed to position the horse 4th or 5th, however the gelding was anchored by its big weight in the early stages and as a result was unable to take up a position close to the lead. He added that the horse travelled well despite its big weight and pleased him in the way it finished the race off.

J. Taylor, rider of Vocalic, reported that the pattern of the race did not suit the horse in that the race developed into a sprint home today.

Stewards sought an explanation from G. Colless, rider of Rasmussen, as to the reason for Rasmussen moving away from the fence rounding the home turn, thereby allowing Heart Of The Citi a run to its inside. G. Colless stated that Rasmussen commenced to lay out when he allowed it more rein passing the 500m and did not feel it was in his horse's best interests to restrain it in order to hold a position on the fence as it is a free-running horse. The explanation was accepted.

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