SCST NOV 15 - TIERQUALO UNDERLINES HIS POTENTIAL

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 15, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
3yo QTIS Class 2 Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-23.48.
1 Tierqualo; 2 Dusty's Felt; 3 Tasty Tidbit.

The Kelly Doughty trained Tierqualo made it two wins from three starts here to underline his above average potential.

Tierqualo’s first win had come on debut over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast and he again showed his liking for the big track here, being equally effective when taking the step up to 1400m.

The grey bided his time just off the speed in the early part before asserting his authority in the home straight. Tasty Tidbit, who tried to fight back after being passed by Tierqualo, and Dusty’s Felt, who ran on well at the finish, both stayed close enough to Tierqualo over the concluding stages to ensure that Tierqualo stayed honest all the well to the line, but the grey always had those moves covered and he got home safely to score by a 0,80 length margin.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Doughty: “He is a very good horse. You know he had his second start when he went to Brisbane. Unfortunately he drew barrier fourteen. He had nothing in his favour that day. We thought we’d send him around because we knew there was this race here. Very nice horse. He’ll probably have one more run then go for a spell.”

Jockey Matthew Palmer: “He is quite a nice horse actually. We’ve done a lot of work with him. He’s been a little bit of a problem getting into the gates. I think from last Wednesday to today, I think I’ve been on him ... put him through the barriers five times, you know, between jump-outs, barrier trials and another set of jump-outs we had to do, just for the sheer fact to get his ticket today, because he has been a nuisance.

“He jumped exceptionally well today. He always jumps well. He is probably one of the quietest horses you’ll ride, but he has got a tendency to jack-up going into the machines. Once he’s in there he’s perfect and he races exceptionally well as well.

“Yeah, I did always think I had them covered. I knew what he was capable of. I thought he might have run past Tasty Tidbit and stretched away from him a little bit more over the last 100m, but he sort of just did enough to hold him at bay.

“But the horse has had a big week too, you know. He’s been through the barriers half-a-dozen times in seven days so he’s done a very good job with what he’s done today, so I was very happy.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Tierqualo): 2.40 out to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Near the 1100m, Tierqualo (M. Palmer) had to be eased to avoid the heels of I’m Hot (K. Pope) when that horse crossed to assume the lead. Rounding the home turn, Dusty’s Felt (C. Reith) shifted in and made contact with Lunar Rose (K. Wharton).