DOOM NOV 07 - LIFE’S SHORT WINS IN PRESSURISED FINISH

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Doomben, November 7, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 4m.
NMW Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-19.61.
1 Life's Short; 2 Aquaterra; 3 Charter Boat.

The Robert Bradshaw trained Life’s Short was a track and distance winner at long odds two runs back, but a lack-lustre effort in his last start (when stepped up to 1615m) had punters again leaving the gelding friendless in the betting. This time the six-year-old started at $21.00 and he showed great resolve when outgunning Aquaterra and Charter Boat in a hard-fought finish.

In his previous victory (in a Class 5 contest) Life’s Short had scored by a short-half-head. This time his winning margin was a half-neck.

Jockey Jason Taylor positioned Life’s Short just worse than midfield on the rail. The gelding raced comfortably enough there, sitting just two lengths off the well fancied Charter Boat as he allowed the favourite to carry him into the race saving ground in the sweep to the turn.

Approaching the turn, Taylor shifted Life’s Short out across heels and chased four wide into the home straight. Charter Boat had stayed hard on the rail and he got all the favours when the leader Frisco Miss shifted off the fence early in the straight to offer Charter boat a dream run home.

As Charter Boat moved forward to take the lead away from Frisco Miss, Life’s Short’s challenge was under risk on three levels.

Firstly an outward movement from Proscenium Arch at the 250m threatened to interrupt Life’s Short’s momentum at a crucial stage - but the gelding merely brushed aside that inconvenience. Secondly Life’s Short had to get to Charter Boat and he also had to ward off the strong challenge from behind of Aquaterra.

Life’s Short responded to the pressure in admirable fashion and passed every test on his way to beating Aquaterra by a half-neck with Charter Boat a 0.75 lengths back in third placing.

Trainer Robert Bradshaw was not at the track to see Life’s Short land the fifth win of his career. His health had taken a turn for the worse in the morning, but the results of the weekend did plenty to help boost his morale.

The Bradshaw team was in fact firing on three fronts over the weekend. Apart from Life’s Short’s win at Doomben, Bradshaw also struck with She’s Our Secret ($11.00) in the first race at the Gold Coast on Saturday and the stable completed their three race-track treble when Prince Telesto saluted at Coloundra on Sunday.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Jason Taylor: “We tried the horse last start over a mile. It was a bit of a slowly run race and he pulled too hard. Probably just didn’t see the mile out. So he had excuses last start - the mile and the slow run tempo. He’s an awkward horse to ride because he pulls very hard. The key to him is to get him to switch off, but last start he just wouldn’t switch off.

“Back to 1350 today ... good solid tempo ... I managed to be able to switch him off and with the solid tempo over the 1350 he was able to relax. You know, following Charter Boat (the favourite) we just got a glorious run into the race... and when he relaxes like that he hits the line strong.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Life’s Short): 21.00 straight.
Favourite (Charter Boat): 2.50 out 3.00 in to 2.40.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Eleventh Command (A. Spinks) and Somewhere Safer (B. Powell) were slow to begin. Somewhere Safer was inclined to over-race rounding the first turn.

Aquaterra (D. Brown) was hampered rounding the first turn when All Stellar (M. Speers), which had been over-racing, commenced to lose ground and this resulted in Aquaterra losing a favourable position obtained earlier in the race. Tightrope (L. Cassidy) was inclined to over-race on the first turn. Somewhere Safer and Bernardo (B. Stewart), which were following, were inconvenienced.

Near the 500m, Cuban Dancer (M. Palmer) was cramped for room between Aquaterra (D. Brown), which shifted out slightly and Tightrope (L. Cassidy) which shifted in away from Another Speights (J. Byrne). Hearty Laughter (M. Hellyer), Red Ferments (L. Rolls), Another Speights (J. Byrne) and Bernardo (B. Stewart) all raced wide in the middle stages. Frisco Miss (C. McIver) hung out rounding the home turn and continued to do so in the run to the finish.

Stewards questioned Mr C. Partington, representative of trainer R. Bradshaw, regarding the seemingly improved performance of Life's Short in winning today as compared to its previous start at Doomben on 24 October. Mr Partington stated that the horse had dropped back in distance and was of the opinion the horse did not run out the mile at its previous start and was better suited by the distance of today's race.

When questioned regarding the performance of Tight Rope, L. Cassidy stated that after beginning well he had the horse positioned where it was comfortable, however the pace slowed and the horse then commenced to over-race and he felt the horse was not suited by the pattern of the race. He added that whilst the horse did appear disappointing he was not entire dissatisfied with the performance given the pattern of the race.