DOOM NOV 07 - CATALLION EXTENDS WINNING SEQUENCE

By Graham Potter | Monday, November 9, 2009

Doomben, November 7, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 4m.
3yo QTIS Handicap - 1640m. Time: 1-39.26
1 Catallion; 2 Favours Traded; 3 Lunar Rose.

The Trevor Bailey trained Catallion scored an end to end victory to claim his third win in a row. Catallion had previously one a Class 1 event and then followed up with a Class 2 win - both at the Gold Coast - before taking this sterner test in his stride.

The chestnut was superbly rated in front by apprentice jockey Luke Rolls. He sent the gelding into a clear lead early. He then slowed the speed mid-race before kicking away from a hoard of challengers on straightening.

All the while the main fancy, Favours Traded had been racing a little better than midfield along the inside in sixth position. Favours Traded was up to fifth on the turn. He looked full of running, but found himself in restricted galloping room early in the straight. The delay compromised his chances, but jockey Glen Colless did extricate his mount from that predicament coming up to the 100m mark, and the favourite quickly found another gear to charge home late.

Favours Traded cut back Catallion’s advantage with each passing stride, but the effort had been made a touch too late as Rolls kept Catallion going just long enough to get the result by fast diminishing short half-head.

Credit both of these runners with good performances. Catallion has now won four out of seven starts. Favours Traded, who was unbeaten in two starts going into this contest, now has a second placing to add to his two victories in his three starts. He will have lost no friends in defeat and will almost certainly be well fancied to make amends next time out.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Luke Rolls: “We wanted to either lead or be up there ... but we got to the front easy enough. Once in front the plan was just to do enough to stop anything going around me or getting in my way.

“Just from the 600m he always wanted to get off the fence. He was just sort of green but, yeah, he just wanted to get off the fence, but it didn’t bother me. It’s probably a little bit better off the fence anyway. The other one dived at me on the line and I wasn’t too sure if I’d held on.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Catallion): 4.60 out to 4.80 to 4.60.
Favourite (Favours Traded): 1.90 out to 2.00. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Approaching the first turn, Silver Trump (J. Taylor) commenced to over-race at the heels of Get Uppity (B. Stewart) and the horse continue to over-race for some distance.

After leaving the 1200m, Sanderson (J. Byrne) over-raced at the heels of Dusty's Felt (C. Reith). Mr Tracey (M. Hellyer), which was trailing, was also inconvenienced when it improved on to the heels of Sanderson.

Favours Traded (G. Colless) was held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Near the 250m, Dusty's Felt had to be checked when disappointed for a run where there was not fully sufficient room between Poised For Success (B. Pengelly), which shifted in slightly and Dark Knight (A. Best) which shifted out away from Favours Traded (G. Colless) when that horse was taken out by Lunar Rose, which was inclined to shift ground under pressure. J. Bowditch, rider of Lunar Rose, was instructed to take greater measures to prevent his mounts shifting ground in the run to the finish. Big Boori (J. Holder) was caught wide on the first turn and raced three wide for the majority of the event.

A post-race veterinary examination of Mr Tracey (M. Hellyer), which was inclined to hang out in the race, failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.