DOOM NOV 18 - ALBERTON PARK STARTS PAYING HER WAY

By Graham Potter | Friday, November 20, 2009

Doomben, November 18, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 4.9m.
Maiden Plate (Fillies & Mares - Set Weights) - 1200m. Time: 1-10.02.
1 Alberton Park; 2 Decryption; 3 Bullion Bay.

The Liam Birchley trained Alberton Park scored her breakthrough win in her sixth start.

The filly, who was racing second-up after a four month spell, was given the run of the race by jockey Stathi Katsidis. Settled in third place early, Katisdis was happy to allow Alberton Park to track the front-running Decryption and the second placed Pure Slip until the turn.

Alberton Park brushed Pure Slip aside on straightening and immediately set about reeling in the leader. Decryption was no easy target though. The filly kicked hard intent on holding her advantage. Katsidis was unruffled by his rival’s resistance and the rider calmly steered Alberton Park up to dispute the lead.

Katsidis then let Alberton Park take the measure of Decryption with the minimum of persuasion and the chestnut eased away from her game opponent to score a little easier than the official 0.80 length margin suggests.

WINNERS FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “Yeah, she should have probably won first-up. She just had no luck … never got out at any stage. She just sort of snookered himself from the one draw. Just didn’t have an option. Luckily she got a bit of room today.

“We got her from New Zealand (at the Karaka sales). She cost $200000. We just bought her on type. She had the pedigree, you know, you can’t avoid paying a bit more. She got good residual value.

“We’ll just go through the grades with her … maybe we’ll be on the lookout for a Listed race for her to try and get some Black Type.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Alberton Park): 1.70 out to 1.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to the race, the connections of Bullion Bay advised that the mare would be ridden back in the field if circumstances permit. The start of this race was delayed when Sunshine Lass had to be re-saddled after arriving behind the barrier stalls. Bullion Bay (B. Pengelly) jumped away very awkwardly and made contact with the hind quarters of Pure Slip (D. Brown).

Swank (J. Wood) over-raced in the middle stages. Leaving the 300m, La Chance Finale (A. Spinks) was hampered when tightened for room between Bullion Bay and Sunshine Lass (M. Palmer), which shifted out. A short distance later, Sunshine Lass again shifted out, bumping La Chance Finale.