EF NOV 14 - DANARDOS SCORES HARD-EARNED SUCCESS

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, November 16, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 14, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 9m.
1MW Handicap - 1846m. Time: 1-53.70.
1 Danardos; 2 Lucky Toss; 3 Bradfield.

When Danardos and Bradfield clashed last time they fought out a pulsating stride for stride battle for most of the straight. Danardos got that decision by a half-head margin. These two runners were at it again here, taking up from where they had left off trying to pound each other into submission over the concluding stages of a fiercely contested event.

The only difference is that one other factor was added to the mix. Lucky Toss joined Darnardos and Bradfield to make it a three-way contest. These three runners raced tight together in the closing stages, locked in a no-holds barred shootout with every runner giving their all to the line.

Once again Danardos’ commitment serve him well as he pushed his head out when it mattered most to score by a short-half-head over Lucky Toss with the ever-game Bradfield only a further half-head back in third placing.

Last time Darnardos had stepped up from 1350m to 1615m. Her he was up to 1846m. The extra ground is agreeing with him.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelso Wood: “He just took a long while to get right, you know. He did have a few problems ... just niggling problems ... we just couldn’t go on with him. We’d put him out, give him long spells ... then bring him back, get him going again. He had a bit of soreness in his shoulders.

“When he won his first start here we took him to the coast and he went awful down at the coast. He pulled up lame and sore in the shoulder and we tried to get him right. We ended up sending him out to Pascoe out at Oakey and they went over him, you know. It was just ongoing. I didn’t ever think we’d get him right, you know, and all of a sudden he’s just right.

“He got a good run ... well he puts himself there ... and he got a good run so I didn’t think he would have any problem running the distance out.”

Jockey Brad Pengelly: “He’s so consistent and Kelso (Wood) has got him going so well. What Kelso has done to get him to the distance he is at is second to none, you know. I am very happy to be associated with the team.

“He found the line, he really knuckled quite well today. The three of the horses that finished in the place getters are around the same ability. You know, to their credit ... but, I finished in front so happy days. Yes, I was quietly confident in the photo.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Danardos): 4.00 out 6.00 in to 5.00.
Favourite (Shooting Scene): 3.60 out to 4.20.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Alvaldi bucked in the early stages of the race Trainer M. Nolan was advised that Alvaldi must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start.

Eddie Rapido laid in over the concluding stages. Bradfield (S. Seamer) hung out under pressure in the home straight and near the finish line shifted out, brushing Lucky Toss (L. Cassidy).

Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice M. Hellyer in respect of the seemingly disappointing performance of Shooting Scene. M. Hellyer stated that when racing inside horses, the gelding over-raced and he felt this was a telling factor in the horse's inability to finish the race off today.

Trainer L. Mayfield-Smith explained that throughout the gelding's career it has always shown a dislike for racing inside horses and, in his opinion, is a much better horse when it is not forced to race in amongst other runners.

L. Mayfield-Smith undertook to advise stewards of any abnormality that may come to light which may have had a bearing on today's performance of Shooting Scene. A post race veterinary examination of Shooting Scene failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

S. Seamer, rider of Bradfield, was reprimanded for using his whip six times in a forehand manner prior to the 100m. S. Seamer was also reprimanded for using his whip in consecutive strides in a forehand manner prior to the 100m.