EF NOV 25 - INANNA STRIKES FIRST-UP

By Graham Potter | Thursday, November 26, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 25, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10.5m.
Class 3 Handicap - 1000m. Time: 56.74.
1 Inanna; 2 Wedding Lily; 3 Baqaba.

The Laurie Richardson trained Inanna, who was resuming here after a four month spell, jumped into the lead from the break. Once there, the four-year-old mare was perfectly rated by jockey Jason Taylor who used her natural speed to good advantage to attack the opposition from the front, setting a lively target as he set about exposing any weaknesses in her opponents’ make-up.

Truly Ablaze and Ocean Journey were right on the leader’s heels on straightening, but that was the best they could do as Inanna continued to kick on strongly in the straight. When these two runners had enough, Wedding Lily and Baqaba took their place to keep the pressure on Inanna all the way to the line, but the chestnut was equal to any task thrown at her on the day and he stayed on well to claim her third win in her eighth start.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Laurie Richardson: “Yeah, I had a bit of confidence. She galloped fantastic on Saturday morning. She trialled nicely before that a fortnight ago at Beaudesert.

“That is her normal pattern of racing. I said to Jason (Taylor) she is a long-shot, but I think they’ll let you lead and they’ll think, oh we’ll run her down ... and that was their downfall.”

Jockey Jason Taylor: “I had to work. We drew a bit awkwardly and I was sort of going to cross easy when a couple pushed up on the inside. I had to give it a press to cross ... but even then I couldn’t cross right to the fence.

“I could only give her a slight breather. When she got to the lead I managed to nurse her a little bit until we got to the straight, but it wasn’t much of a rest. But, yeah, when it came down to the business end she just knuckled down and kicked again. She was just solid. She had to do it the whole way.

“I sort of thought well she’s had a tough run. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was found wanting a bit in the last bit, but no ... that wasn’t the case at all."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Inanna): 14.00 steady.
Favourite (Baqaba): 3.00 out to 3.70. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Pride Of Ardrossan was examined by the veterinary surgeon prior to coming into the saddling enclosure and again behind the barriers and was passed fit to start. Pride Of Ardrossan (J. Byrne) was slow to jump.

App M. Speers the rider of Wedding Lily was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under AR137(a) in that leaving the 200m he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of Ocean Journey (L. Cassidy), resulting in that horse having to be checked. App M. Speers' licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 8 meetings to commence midnight Sunday 29 November 2009 and expire midnight Friday 11 December 2009.

M. Palmer was issued with a reprimand for raising his arm above the shoulder when using his whip on Dreaming Cash over the final 300m.