IPSW NOV 17 - START TO FINISH WIN FOR SPECIAL AURA

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Ipswich, November 17, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 9m 1600-1200; out - 10m 1200-finish.
Maiden Handicap (Fillies & Mares) - 1100. Time: 1-05.64.
1 Special Aura; 2 Elusivity; 3 Raining Fire.

The Rochelle Pereira trained Special Aura scored a confident end to end win. The filly was racing for only the second time and she first-up here having been spelled after making her debut back in July.

The three-year-old jumped into an immediate lead. She had Elusivity racing hard on her outside in second spot until the turn and she then had to repel Elusivity’s game challenge early in the straight. Special Aura was good enough to do that and she extended her lead over the closing stages to pass the post with 1.80 lengths to spare on Elusivity, who stayed on for second.

The short-priced favourite Raining Fire jumped awkwardly, remained in the second half of the field until the turn, had to weave her way through traffic in the straight and ran on into third placing without ever looking likely to pose a threat to the winner.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Rochelle Pereira: “We were happy with the first-up run (back in July). Scott (Galloway) rode her. He was pretty happy with her. She then had a trial after that run, in which she ran second to Chilli Rock of Tony Gollan, and then went out for a spell.

“We didn’t trial her before this run. She’s got a fair bit of speed and that helped her overcome the draw. We were really happy with her.”

Jockey Christian Reith: “She jumped really well ... led. I got my own way in front. She did it well. She had had enough towards the end which was to be expected. She hasn’t run for a while, but she’ll improve on that.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Special Aura): 4.40 out to 5.00.
Favourite (Raining Fire): 1.70 out to 1.80. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Raining Fire (D. Griffin) began awkwardly, losing ground. As Sweet As Candy (A. Pattillo) and Back Stage (R. Wiggins) made heavy contact shortly after the start. Prevailable (W. Clasohm) also jumped awkwardly and shifted in and had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Ombra Mattino (K. Banks).

Prevailable over-raced in the early stages and was inclined to hang in, and near the 900m struck the heels of Ombra Mattino and blundered. Near the 800m, Feline Fantasy (M. Cahill) commenced to over-race and had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Special Aura (C. Reith). Feline Fantasy then shifted out, inconveniencing Ombra Mattino.

A post race veterinary examination of As Sweet As Candy revealed the filly to have pulled up lame in the near-foreleg. Trainer J. Bayliss was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for As Sweet As Candy prior to its next race start.