SCST NOV 15 - DIBABA FIGHTS OFF EXCLUSIVE CIRCLE

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 15, 2009
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Class 1 Handicap - 1000m. Time: 57.98.
1 Dibaba; 2 Exclusive Circle; 3 Strictly Flamenco.

The Jason McLachlan trained Dibaba returned from a spell and turned in an encouraging performance. It was the second win from only three starts for the lightly raced filly.

Dibaba hinted at having above average potential when winning on debut at a Doomben midweek meeting back in May and the manner in which she fought on to the line here, albeit when racing against no world-beaters, has again brought that possibility into play. We will no more when she is given a sterner test.

Dibaba ($2.50 favourite) was always in control over the final 200m but, by the same token, she was made to work all the way to the line when pestered by the persistent challenge of Exclusive Circle ($16.00) who refused to go away on the rail. In the end, Dibaba’s winning margin was one length.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Jason McLachlan: “She can gallop. She is just one of those horses, you know, we’ve just got to get her right mentally. She’s got a few little issues. That’s why we gave her time off (a six month spell) just to try and get her right in the head. Today she bolted in. She ran 57.9 ... she can gallop, don’t worry.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “The horse is excitable before and after, but she is not actually a difficult ride in the race. She is extremely placid in the race, but obviously she is working herself up to ... well, she does get herself over-excited before a race. She is just exerting so much energy before the race. Even after the race. You see her after the race and she is extremely hyped up sort of thing.

“Yet, as soon as the barriers open, she just lobs along, you know. You can do anything with here. Obviously you don’t want her to overwork herself before her race ... but, you know, she’s only had three starts ... two wins ... and one of them she was beaten on the Cushion.

“So all I can say is, maybe she doesn’t go on the Cushion, for one. The other is she is still learning.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Dibaba): 5.20 in to 2.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Strictly Flamenco (J. Kropp) and Handshake (K. Wharton) both jumped away awkwardly and made heavy contact just after the start. Dibaba (J. Byrne) and Lady Rich (M. Hellyer) brushed on jumping away.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of Pegunny Warrior, D. Griffin stated that after jumping extremely well, the horse was inclined to over-race and refused to settle and as a result of over-racing, the horse compounded over the final 200m.

Trainer M. Tremble indicated that he would consider removing the blinkers and undertook to give the horse a barrier trial before racing again. Following this undertaking, stewards took no further action. A post-race veterinary examination of Pegunny Warrior failed to reveal any abnormalities other than an abnormally elevated heart rate.