SCST NOV 08 - I’LL RULE GETS HIS WAY

By Graham Potter | Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 8, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10m.
3yo QTIS Maiden Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-14.71.
1 I'll Rule; 2 Been Naughty; 3 Clancy's Mountain.

I’ll Rule was tardy away at the start. He then hesitated for a stride or two, but then recovered quickly to rail up into a prominent fourth position before the field had covered 250m. Up to third, just a touch over two lengths off the leader, saving ground, in the sweep to the turn, apprentice jockey Erin Wilson switched I’ll Rule wider into clear running at the top of the straight.

I’ll Rule was well placed on straightening, but the gelding still had plenty of work to do. The short-priced favourite Clancy’s Mountain, who had raced in second place for the first half of the race, made an early play for the honours, kicking away confidently early in the straight.

Passing the 200m mark Clancy’s Mountain still looked full of running, but I’ll Rule was refusing to go away and Wilson rallied her mount and they began to close the gap on the main fancy. By the 120m mark the Clancy’s Mountain was in serious trouble. By the 75m, he was beaten as I’ll Rule surged to the lead.

But it still wasn’t over. While I’ll Rule had been chasing down Clancy’s Mountain, Been Naughty had stuck to his task. Suddenly he was right up there with the leaders. He flashed late ... missed ... and had to be content with second placing behind I’ll Rule who had carved out a hard-earned victory.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Matt Kropp: “The barrier cost him last start (when finishing second at Toowoomba from an eleven draw when racing first-up). He was stuck wide and he kept coming and he made a hard run right up the hill around them.

“Then today he got the barrier and he missed the kick which made his job a bit harder, but he was still good enough ... and Erin (Wilson) did a real good job to make up the ground after he missed it. That was the plan ... to try and be closer in the running.

“My other apprentice used to ride him in his first starts and he had a lot of trouble getting him away. The horse was sort of getting into the habit of it, but now, with Erin on, he’s getting better.”

Apprentice jockey Erin Wilson: “We went out with the intention to sit just off the pace. He was a bit slow away, so I did have to work him up the fence. We got a bit of luck there so I was able to slot him in, sitting third.

“I had a lap-full of horse. I just had to come out a little bit before the home corner because he was getting up on heels ... just from greenness. But, overall, yeah he ran a really nice race. He is a big, long-striding horse

“I wasn’t concerned at all going to the line. He is just a very honest, tough horse. He just gives you one hundred percent. It is good to be on a horse like him.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (I’ll Rule): 3.80 out to 4.60.
Favourite (Clancy’s Mountain): 1.80 in to 1.60. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
I'll Rule (E. Wilson) and Watacon (J. Byrne) were both slow to begin. Been Naughty (B. Pengelly) was severely tightened for room at the start between Sudden Force (M. Morris), which shifted in, and Show Me The Magic (M. Palmer), which began awkwardly and shifted out.

Approaching the 800m, I'll Rule began to over-race and threw its head in the air for a short distance, and then approaching the 500m had to be steadied off the heels of Pure Diva (A. Spinks). Near the 200m, Piccali shifted out, bumping Watacon (J. Byrne). Brennan (D. Gill), Piccali (D. Browne) and Watacon all raced wide for the majority of the event. Piccali lost its off-fore plate during the race.

When questioned regarding the performance of Street Master, D. Craven stated that, in his opinion, the horse, which was having its first start in a race, raced greenly and would benefit from today's run. Stewards noted the explanation.