PHAZE ACTION DOES ENOUGH

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 16, 2009

Dwayne Dunn made all the right calls when guiding Phaze Action to victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200m at Flemington. An early move in the straight while leaving just enough in the tank to last to final 50m was the recipe for success, as Phaze Action did enough to claim his fourth career victory and his second win in his last three starts.

The field was tightly bunched when it turned for home in the two mile event. While there were many chances at that stage, the pecking order was quickly sorted out as the runners began to quicken.

By the 300m mark, Ladies In Luck and Phaze Action had pulled clear of the pack and they became engaged in a private duel over the next 200m. With 100m left to run, Phaze Action got the better of that battle and looked safely home, but a late rally by the fast finishing Tangalooma kept the supporters of the Bevan and Richard Laming trained runner sweating all the way to the line.

This was an improved performance by Phaze Action. Both he and Ladies In Luck were backing up after a 2800m race at Flemington last week. Ladies In Luck came back a winner on that occasion, beating Phaze Action by 2.20 lengths. Phaze Action was 0,5kg better off at the weights this time around.

Ladies In Luck just stayed on for second ahead of the flying Tangalooma. Tangalooma was dropping in class here. His last start was in the Group 1 Sydney Cup. This was an eye-catching effort.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Dwayne Dunn (who completed a double on the day): “The big advantage was I got him to drop straight off today (with the addition cross-over nose band on)... to settle on a nice piece of cotton. Coming out three wide from the mile, the second horse just kept shoving me from about the 1000m mark in. I was happy to do that and let him come through the gears. I knew he would be strong late.

“Bevan (Laming) rang me to tell me that he would settle better with it (the nose band) on and he was hundred percent right. He just relaxed so well. I think that is the difference - whether he is going to kick and go home or whether he just staggers home. He switched off and that gave him a chance to have a kick when I needed him.

“He’s dead-set two miles. He just probably didn’t help himself early in his career, because he was so fierce. Now that he can settle and be placed for a race like this, that’s probably his mark. Hopefully he might give the owners a little bit of excitement and they might aim a bit higher.”