EF NOV 03 - HOW BRAVE GIVES FORSTER A DOUBLE

By Graham Potter | Friday, November 6, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 3, 2009.
Track - Good 3, Rail - out 10m.
Class 4 Handicap (C, G & E) - 1500m. Time: 1-29.10.
1 How Brave; 2 Amazing Dane; 3 General Purple.

Trainer Desleigh Forster landed a race-to-race double when How Brave saluted forty-five minutes after Mossbemad had put his name on the winners’ list.

The chestnut simply carried too much fire-power for the opposition emerging down the inside running rail, inside the final 150m, to take command after it had looked like the duelling Amazing Dane and General Purple were the ones who were going to fight out the finish.

The winning margin in the end was only one length, but the authority with which the win was achieved was a little bit more clear-cut than that margin suggests.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Desleigh Forster: “He’s just had bad luck before ... bad luck ... bad barriers. A good jockey rode him today and the horse was crying out for the journey.” (How Brave stepped up from 1300m to 1500m).

“When B.Pengelly rides mate, you don’t worry about that part. You just let him ride the horse. He knows what he is doing. I think he is the best jockey. I don’t care what anybody says ... and it is not just because he won. I think he is the best.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “We didn’t have the opportunity of being midfield where we wanted to be because of the barrier, you know.” (How Brave jumped from the widest gate). “So I had to ride him a bit patiently and everything sort of worked out quite well.

“He’s a decent horse, but he has had quite a few issues. He has had knee operations. He’s had everything, you know, so for Desleigh (Forster) to get him back in winning form is a great feat.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (How Brave): 10.00 out to 11.00.
Favourite (Lucky Omens): 3.10 in to 2.90. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Tanzill (J. Taylor) stood flatfooted as the gates opened and missed the start. Incendio (L. Cassidy) began awkwardly and lost ground. Paraja (A. Spinks) raced wide in the early stages.

Stewards sought an explanation from jockey S. Katsidis regarding the performance of Lucky Omens. S. Katsidis stated that the gelding was slow to begin and as a result settled further back in the field than he would have liked. He added that this forced him to make a run from approaching the 500m around the field, however he was nevertheless disappointed with the gelding's finishing effort. Trainer B. Guy could not offer any explanation for the performance of Lucky Omens however added that, in his opinion, runners wide on the track had found it hard to make ground today.

L. Rolls, rider of Notevennow, which performed below expectations explained that, whilst the horse over-raced in the middle stages, he was disappointed with the way it finished the race off. Trainer B. Guy stated that Notevennow had worked well leading into today's race, however after assessing today's performance he would review the current racing program. A post race veterinary examination of Notevennow failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation from L. Cassidy regarding the performance of Incendio. L. Cassidy stated that the horse was reluctant to be loaded into the barriers and was slowly into stride. He further added that Incendio did not travel well and he was forced to urge the horse forward in order to keep in contact with the main body of the field. Trainer R. Heathcote was unable to offer any explanation for the horse's performance and undertook to advise stewards of any condition which may come to light in the following days that may have had a bearing on the gelding's performance today.

Stewards advised Mr Heathcote that in the absence of any veterinary reason coming to light in the days following the race that would explain the poor performance they would order that Incendio trial to the satisfaction of the stewards prior to its next race start. A post race veterinary examination of Incendio failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Stewards questioned trainer D. Forster regarding the seemingly improved performance of How Brave today. Ms Forster stated that at its most recent start at the Gold Coast on 7 October, the horse was slowly away and forced to sustain a long run around the field from a rearward position and made up good ground in the straight. D. Forster added that the effort of How Brave on that occasion had plenty of merit in her opinion and she was not surprised by the gelding's performance today.