EF NOV 21 - REFLECTION OF JADE SHINES BRIGHTLY

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, November 23, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 21, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
2yo QTIS 600 Handicap (Fillies) - 1000m. Time: 1-22.73.
1 Reflection Of Jade; 2 Wandering Star; 3 Raise Up.

Trainer Kelly Schweida enjoyed a profitable 58 seconds work here when his two runners, Reflection Of Jade and Raise Up finished first and third respectively in this $110000 QTIS 600 Handicap. The two runners were separated by Wandering Star who finished second.

Jockey Jimmy Byrne had Reflection Of Jade in the second half of the field in the early part as She’s Our Secret stretched out at the head of affairs trying to make every post a winning one. Byrne switched the filly out wider on the turn and she straightened four wide, with work to do in sixth spot.

Byrne set Reflection Of Jade about her business early in the straight, but he had to repeat the dose before the grey got the message. The grey started to knuckle down, slowly at first, then with growing confidence, and she gradually moved forward into contention with her stable-mate Raise Up in tow.

By the 200m She’s Our Secret had lost the lead to Demarcation who herself was under serious threat from Wandering Star, but it was Reflection Of Jade, who had now built winning momentum, who ranged up inside the last 100m to settle the matter in her favour with a finishing effort that her rivals were unable to match.

Wandering Star got past Demarcation close to the line to earn second spot with Raise Up, the stable companion to the winner, running on well from behind to gain third place ahead of Demarcation who had to settle for fourth place.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schwieda: “She’s a Magic Millions horse, but I really don’t think she could last that long, I really don’t. You know, it is always tempting, but I would think she is not physically strong enough, you know. She’s a little light filly.

“We’ve sort of had to do nothing with her. She is very lazy on the track, but it has been three weeks since her (first) run and we were struggling to pick her up. I just don’t think she is mentally right for that sort of race, you know. She’ll probably be better off after she has a break.

“It was a good effort, she got a fair way back. Actually I worked them on Tuesday morning and the other one (Raise Up) worked way too good for Reflection Of Jade, but then she does nothing in track-work. She saves it for race-day. Raise Up finished well. She’s probably better suited to 1200m. Damian (Browne) said she just had to chase a little bit hard early here over the 1000.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “Yeah look, she’s a little bit small, not real strong at the moment, but hopefully she’ll develop into a bit bigger and stronger filly sort of thing. As it was I was niggling her a bit too much early so I just kind of let her be a little bit and hoped that, you know, she would basically get a good clean run to them on the outside. Thankfully she was able to do that.

“Yeah, she did have the advantage of having had a run under her belt. Kel (Schweida) pretty much does a fair bit of work with his horses. You know, when they do get to the races they’re prepared sort of thing. They’ve already been through the barriers a few times and trialled and what not. In all honestly even if it was her first start she probably would have still put in a pretty good performance. But once again, you know, it is a big difference once they’ve had that run.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Reflection Of Jade): 4.20 steady.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Umanova (S. Seamer) was slow to begin. Catalan Miss (G. Colless) was cramped for room on jumping away between Maid Of Sevens (B. Pengelly) and Wandering Star (S. Katsidis), which shifted out.

Just Destiny (A. Pattillo) shifted out and away from Reflection Of Jade (J. Byrne), which shifted out to improve near the 500m. Just Destiny then commenced to hang out and did so for the remainder of the event. Umanova raced greenly when placed under pressure in the straight.

A post-race veterinary examination of Infamous Dancer (L. Cassidy), which finished a distant last, revealed the filly to be exhibiting a cough post-race. Trainer R. Heathcote advised stewards that he would send Infamous Dancer for a spell and that he would provide a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to it returning to racing.

Schweida