SCST NOV 15 - CHANGE OF FORTUNE FOR DIAMONDHEART

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 15, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Maiden Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-38.23.
1 Diamondheart; 2 Swift Cash; 3 Biscays Best.

The Mark Sims trained Diamondheart enjoyed a change of fortune here to claim the first success of his career.

The four-year-old had the misfortune to lose his rider in his previous start (when in the betting at 4-1). Things could only improve from there and the gelding got the best possible result when running down Swift Cash, who had looked the likely winner inside the final 150m, with a finely judged finishing effort under a determined ride from jockey Paul Hammersley.

Credit to the winner for taking his opportunity. All you can do is win your race, but the fact that Diamondheart was scoring his first win in his seventeenth start and the runner-up Swift Cash has yet to taste success in twenty starts underlines the ordinary nature of the strength of this line-up.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Mark Sims: “That’s a lot better result than last time. The jockey stayed on him this time. He was overdue for a win too. He’s been trying, trying ... and he’s finally cracked it today.

“He really fought on well in the finish. It worked out perfect. He (Paul Hammersley) rode him just how we wanted him to be ridden.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Diamondheart): 3.00 out to 3.20.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
J. Taylor, rider of Biscays Best, was reprimanded for raising his whip above his shoulder over the latter stages of the race.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Pegunny Hog, D. Griffin stated that despite being held up rounding the home turn, he obtained clear running at the top of the straight, however the gelding hung in and continued to hang in in the straight and did not finish the race off as expected.

A post-race veterinary examination of Pegunny Hog revealed the gelding to be lame in both forelegs. Trainer M. Tremble was advised that he would be required to provide a veterinary clearance for Pegunny Hog prior to its next race start.