DOOM OCT 31 - BLAZING HEARTS BURNS PUNTERS

By Graham Potter | Friday, November 6, 2009

Doomben, October 31, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2m.
Class 6 Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-19.31.
1 Blazing Hearts; 2 Ulladulla; 3 Askew.

Blazing Hearts started at $101 at the bookmakers and returned a tote win dividend of $172. That happens - but it seldom comes around by a five length winning margin with the jockey looking around repeatedly to try and catch a glimpse of the opposition before smiling all the way to the line and giving a premature victory salute which earned the rider a $200 fine.

Unless of course the horse had stolen the race from the front and managed to stay on ... but that was not the case here. Jockey Bobby El-Issa did have Blazing Hearts right on the speed. He sat behind the front-running Askew early on. He then moved alongside Askew and pressured the leader in the sweep to the turn and early in the straight ... and then came the explosion of speed at the 200m as Blazing Hearts skipped away to come home alone as he embarrassed his rivals, none of whom made any impression on the free-running Danny Bougoure trained gelding as he went to the line without a care in the world to land a massive upset.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Danny Bougoure: “Mate the horse can gallop ... he’s just ... the other day he drew a little bit awkwardly and we tried to ride him back at Coloundra. Today we just let him roll.”

Jockey Bobby El-Issa (Blazing Hearts was a pick-up ride. He replaced Danny Craven): “Yeah, it was a good pick-up ride. I think it was just my fate today. I deserve it I think. The more they kick me down, the more I just keep bouncing back up, mate.

“Danny (Bougoure) just told me to go forward on him. He had him pretty fit. I just went forward and the horse did the rest ... yeah, I just steered.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Blazing Hearts); 91.00 out to 101.00.
Favourite (Athenas Gift): 5.00 in to 4.40. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As D. Craven was to be overweight, B. El-Issa was substituted as the rider of Blazing Hearts. D. Craven was fined $100.

Charlotte Courtney (L. Cassidy) attempted to buck shortly after the start. Trainer H. Wilson was advised that the mare must trial satisfactorily in two official trials prior to its next race start.

Frisco’s In Charge (J. Bowditch) over-raced at the heels of Ulladulla (M. Cahill) in the middle stages. Near the 150m, My Limit (M. Speers) had to be steadied when disappointed for a run to the inside of Askew (S. Seamer).

Jockey G. Colless reported that he was forced to race in a three-wide position on Tears’N’Cheers, however was still disappointed with the horse's finishing effort over the concluding stages.

Stewards sought an explanation from trainer D. Bougoure for the improved performance of Blazing hearts. Mr Bourgoure explained that the horse was having only its second start in his care and had race ungenerously when restrained to take up a position midfield at the Sunshine Coast on 18 October. D. Bougoure further stated that as a result of racing ungenerously and travelling wide, Blazing Hearts had failed to finish the race off on that occasion.

Stewards noted the explanation of Mr Bougoure in respect to Blazing Hearts performance, however he was fined $400 under AR135A for failing to advise stewards of a change of tactics on Blazing hearts. Jockey B. El-Issa was fined $200 for making a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post.