EF NOV 03 - LUNAR BELLE GETS HER DAY

By Graham Potter | Friday, November 6, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 3, 2009.
Track - Good 3, Rail - out 10m.
Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 2200m. Time: 2-23.90.
1 Lunar Belle; 2 Potters Cay; 3 Sasso.

The Noel Doyle trained Lunar Belle topped the betting boards and she duly saluted after reeling in the front-running Potters Cay with a grinding run down the home straight.

Jockey Tony Pattillo settled the chestnut in third on the rail for much of the trip. The mare was always travelling comfortably enough, but when Potters Cay stretched her lead to four lengths in the sweep to the turn there was some concern as to whether jockey Larry Cassidy had pinched a winning lead.

Turning for home Pattillo pushed Lunar Belle past Kalinga Echo and asked her to go after Potters Cay. Horse and rider had to work to get there, but get there they did as they moved alongside Potters Cay inside the final 100m before edging away to win by a length.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Noel Doyle: “It did worry me when the other one (Potter’s Cay) went out in front. The leader is by Montjeu and I thought they can keep going. They can stay like a mother-in-law sort of thing, you know. So, yeah, I was a bit worried. But this mare ... she’s very solid. She’s been racing very consistently, so she was overdue for a win.”

Jockey Tony Pattillo: “Mate, the race all worked out in our favour. Potter’s Cay and Kalinga Echo put a little bit of speed into the race. They gave me plenty of time to get my horse really rolling and get her into the race.

“We were picking up momentum at the right time. I was pretty sure I was going to get the leader at about the 200m ... and that’s what she did. She went on to win the race which was nice.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Lunar Belle): 2.40 out to 2.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Sasso (B. Pengelly) jumped away awkwardly and was tightened for room shortly after the start between Kuda Rock (G. Colless) and Pirate Cove (J. Taylor), which shifted out.

Stewards sought an explanation from B. Pengelly in regards to his decision to move Sasso from a rearward position leaving the 1600m. B. Pengelly stated he had received interference at the start and as a result raced in a rearward position when he had been instructed to take up a position on the speed. B. Pengelly added that when the pace came off near the 1500m, he felt it was in the horse's best interests to progress forward and comply with his instructions.