SCST OCT 25 - FLY TO WIN SCORES IN UNTROUBLED FASHION

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Sunshine Coast, October 25, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 8m.
Class 3 Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-24.76.
1 Fly To Win; 2 My Flight; 3 Coroner.

The David Murphy trained Fly To Win scored her fourth career success, coming home in untroubled fashion to stamp her authority on proceedings over the final 200m.

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer had the mare in fifth position on the rail early. The only slight complication was the muddled pace mid-race, but Hellyer held his nerve on the rail and continued to save ground to the turn. On straightening Hellyer switched out into clear running and he asked Fly To Win to quicken halfway up the straight.

The five-year-old responded on cue and made up ground quickly. Once she gained the ascendency inside the 200m it was effectively ‘race over’ although My Flight did give plenty of cheek in second spot without having the fire-power to seriously trouble the winner.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Murphy: “They slowed up in front of her and she grabbed the bit and raced onto heels and he (jockey Michael Hellyer) had to steady her back a bit. Once she found daylight though, there was no problem.

“Yeah, I’ve only had her for just the two runs. She ran into, I think, a fairy smart horse last time (when second to Soulima). That was a good run. We actually had her in a Fillies & Mares Class 3 and Eagle Farm next Wednesday. They transferred that meeting to the Cushion Track at Toowoomba, yeah, so we came here instead.

“That’s as far as she wants distance-wise. I think 1300 ... 1350 at Doomben will be ideal for her.”

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “The race was run to suit. They went a bit hard early and then they slackened the speed. She sort of got over-racing a little bit then, but once they picked it up again she was alright. She is a very easy mare to ride.

“Once she saw daylight, she’s got a really nice turn of foot. She’s a very ... how do I describe it ... she’s got to have everything her own way and she got that today. If she can get everything her own way, she’s got a real nice turn of foot and she really accelerates.

“I think she will get away with one in town. Hopefully, with no weight on her back, if she does the same thing she did today, she’ll be alright.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Fly To Win): 1.90 out to 2.30.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Gojigirl (K. Pope) began awkwardly and shifted in, forcing My Flight (A. Pattillo) in on to The Lording Dragon (A. Spinks), resulting in both horses losing ground.

Approaching the 1200m, Gojigirl commenced to over-race, becoming awkward on the heels of Coroner (S. Katsidis) and shifting wider on the track. After passing the 1000m, Coroner (S. Katsidis) commenced to over-raced, having to be restrained off the heels of Lleyton (B. Pengelly).

Nearing the 200m, Coroner had difficulty obtaining clear running between Lleyton (B. Pengelly) and Gojigirl, and in an endeavour to obtain clear running, shifted out, making contact with Gojigirl.