IPSW NOV 17 - SHOTIME FOR LES KELLY

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Ipswich, November 17, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 9m 1600-1200; out - 10m 1200-finish.
Class 2 Handicap - 1350m. Time: 1-20.57.
1 Shotime; 2 Need Luv; 3 Matai.

Trainer Les Kelly completed a double at the meeting when Shotime arrived under a very good ride from jockey Dean Tanti.

Tanti kept Shotime back in the pack as Matai, Super Confident and Mackeye fired each other up only to burn each other out with unrealistic tearaway tactics up front. As that trio predictably came back to their field approaching the turn, Tanti saved ground on the inside until the last possible moment before switching out into the clear early in the straight to start his challenge.

Need Luv, who had raced in close proximity to Shotime in the sweep to the turn, had taken another route. She was all of five wide on straightening, but still full of running. When Shotime shifted out into clear running, Need Luv was right on his heels. These two runners had the momentum and they surged to the head of affairs at the inside the final 150m.

Shotime always held the advantage over his rival and he also had the greater strength in the finish to be able to edge away from Need Luv in the concluding stages to win by a cosy two length margin.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Les Kelly: “Last time she ran (when the mare finished fifth behind The Roman over the same track and distance) Stathi (Katsidis) tried to get her called a non-starter. When she came out of the barriers he nearly fell off her because he wasn’t ready when he let them go. If you look at the replay he almost came off.

“The run before that was good at the coast and so we thought we could have won at Ipswich last time. Today we had a wide draw and the instructions were to ride her back and to ride for a bit of luck. Things worked out well for us this time.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Shotime): 6.00 out to 7.00.
Favourite (Super Confident): 1.60 out to 1.65.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
All Kiwi (J. Wood) was hampered at the start. Shaos (M. Heagney) was slow to begin.

Wynnum High (R. McMahon) was held up for the entire straight and subsequently unable to be ridden out to the finish. J. Wood, rider of All Kiwi, was reprimanded for shifting out rounding the home turn, causing Esquivar (R. Hurley) to be checked.

Stewards questioned apprentice M. Hughes, rider of Matai, J. Holder, rider of Super Confident and K. Ashton, rider of Mackeye, regarding the riding tactics they adopted in the early and middle stages where they led by a considerable distance.

Apprentice Hughes explained that he was instructed to lead and after being able to hold the lead near the 1200m he felt it would have been detrimental to his mount's chances to restrain at that time.

J. Holder explained that in the early stages he attempted to cross Matai and obtain the lead with a view to controlling the tempo of the race, however as he was unable to do this, Super Confident commenced to over-race and he was unable to settle the horse in an effort to have it relax to allow it to finish the race off.

K. Ashton advised that she was instructed to lead if possible, however conceded that she had erred in not restraining Mackeye after passing the 1000m when it was evident that she was going to be trapped three wide outside the leaders.

Stewards noted the explanations of both M. Hughes and J. Holder, and advised K. Ashton and her master, Mr R. Mackay, that her ride lacked judgement, and due to her inexperience in race riding, stewards elected to refer her to the Apprentice Skills Panel with a recommendation from the stewards that she gain greater experience at non TAB racing meetings in the immediate future.

G. Geran was fined $300 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over his declared riding weight.

Kelly