SCST NOV 15 - MELRINA MISS ALWAYS IN CHARGE

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 15, 2009
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Class 2 Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-11.53.
1 Melrina Miss; 2 Swiss Rose; 3 Magic Symphony.

The Ray McCall trained Melrina Miss ran the race to suit herself at the head of affairs and she came home unchallenged under an astute ride from jockey Matthew Palmer to win by 1.30 lengths from the main fancy Swiss Rose.

The filly kicked on too strongly for her opposition in the home straight to improve her strike-rate to a useful three wins from nine starts.

The result gave Palmer a double on the day. The rider scored earlier on the card with Tierqualo.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Ray McCall: “Yeah, I’m had her all the time (including the runs in Rockhampton). Always in her first start each campaign she never does much, because she just fires herself up and goes a hundred mile an hour, you know.

“Like today, I was fearing the same thing ... because she normally takes a couple of runs. But here they’ve left her alone in front and she relaxed.”

Jockey Matthew Palmer: “Ray (McCall) said prior to the race that last time she did go a fraction hard. He basically just said, don’t sort of drive her out of the machines ... he said, she’ll sort of pull herself up there handy anyway.

“So we just bowled out of the machines. She cruised to the front and travelled nicely. I had a look over my shoulder at the 1000 and I realised that I could possible pinch a few slow sectionals, so I did. I just slowly let her get quicker and quicker and build momentum.

“She was too strong at the end. I think we ran 37 or something like that for the first part. She was always going to be hard to catch from there. She did a good job.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Melrina Miss): 7.50 out to 8.00.
Favourite (Swiss Rose): 3.00 out to 3.10 in to 2.80.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
A warning was issued to the connections of Eurostorm, which was reluctant to proceed to the barriers. Melrina Miss (M. Palmer) jumped outwards at the start. Silken Appeal (D. Craven) was slow to begin. Left Hook (K. Pope) and Eurostorm (R. Wiggins) were also slow to jump.

Bougette (V. Schubert) was inclined to over-race rounding the first turn. Swiss Rose (J. Holder) was caught three wide on the first turn and raced three wide for the remainder of the race. J. Holder, rider of Swiss Rose, was reprimanded for using his whip more than the five permitted occasions before the 100m.

Stewards inquired into the reason for Emition (S. Katsidis) being forced three wide approaching the 600m when racing to the outside of Flying Havana (C. Reith) which shifted out from behind the heels of Melrina Miss. S. Katsidis reported that whilst his mount had been forced three wide at that point, it did have a tendency to lay out and was not in a position to hold Flying Havana from shifting one horse away from the rails. C. Reith, rider of Flying Havana, was cautioned and instructed to ensure he has sufficient room to do so in future.

When questioned regarding the performance of Emition today, S. Katsidis stated that the horse began well and occupied a position closer to the lead than had been anticipated, and felt that whilst the horse was forced three wide, it may have been better suited racing with cover. The explanation was noted.