EF NOV 28 - DRENALIN STEALS THE SHOW

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, November 30, 2009

Eagle Farm, November 28, 2009.
Track - Good 2. Rail - out 2.5m.
Country Cup - 1200m. Time: 1-09.02.
1 Drenalin; 2 Millers Wheel; 3 Gobou.

Trainer James Lyons and the connections of Drenalin continued the glorious ride they have been enjoying since the horse resumed on November 1 as the four-year-old gelding maintained his perfect record this prep to land his third successive win.

It was also the Drenalin’s fourth win in his last five starts. His overall record now reads six wins from eleven outings.

The celebration that followed Drenalin’s stunning end to end win gave a welcome reminder of what racing is all about. No big number players here ... just a small team rising above the odds to claim multiple victories, each time enjoying the moment with a passion that stems right back to the roots of the racing. Find a good horse and enjoy the ride ... that is exactly what these connections are doing ... and their unrestrained happiness stands as a great advertisement for racing.

Going into the race, the wide draw was a possible complication for Drenalin, but that potential problem quickly evaporated courtesy of Drenalin’s natural gate speed which quickly carried him to the head of affairs. Once in front, apprentice jockey Justin Wood rated the gelding like an old pro, dictating the speed of the race until the turn.

Early in the home straight and the chess game was over. Wood opened fire with both barrels on Drenalin and the duo surged away from the shell-shocked opposition. There was no let-up all the way to the line and Drenalin had the race within his safe-keeping well before he crossed the line 1.80 lengths clear of the second placed Miller’s Wheel.

Drenalin was apprentice jockey Justin Wood’s first Metropolitan winner.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer James Lyons: “He a good horse ... great ride. You have to give a lot of credit for that race to the rider, Justin Wood.

“Oh look, we had plan A, B, and C ... and plan A won so we were happy with plan A. I don’t know what we are going to do with him. He may go to the paddock now for the autumn, we’ll just wait and see. I trained the mare and just kept the relationship there with the owners and that’s basically how we got him.

“No idea where we’ll go next. I am shooting at stars, I could be dreaming, we just have to work it out.”

Jockey Justin Wood “I thought from the outside alley ... the 1200m start, you sort of jump pretty close in to a turn. I thought our odds to get in midfield one-off ... we were kind of dreaming. I thought with the 50kgs (with the rider’s claim) our best option was just to let him stride, let him roll. He’s a good, nice striding horse. I got him there, just got him to the fence and just eased him back nice and relaxed. Got around the turn and then went again. He was just too good for them, you know.

“He won over 1000m last start. He raced alright last time he went over 1200m (in July), but I think he was at the end of his prep. This time he has peaked and this time he has come back a much better horse.

“I want to sort of start getting a kick-off here in town. This is my first metropolitan winner on a Saturday. It’s good.

“I’ve been floating around the provincials. I’m riding a fair few winners down there. I had an injury in January. I broke my femur and I was out for four months and I just thought, you know I’m getting on in my apprenticeship, and I thought well this time when I come back my main focus will be on town. I have had a few rides here. Just a few placings here and there, but today was the first winner and hopefully it is the start of a good kick-off from here.

“It is so nice winning for James (Lyons). A win means a lot more for the stable. The horse is like part of the family, as such. They bred the horse ... owned and trained it ever since it was born. They have the mother there. They really show an affection for the horse. Sharon straps and rides the horse in work. She looks after it like it was her own child ... and James does the same, you know.

“So it means a lot to them. I couldn’t have ridden my first Metropolitan winner for a better bunch of people. The whole atmosphere was there with it. There were hugs and kisses and happiness everywhere!”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Drenalin): 4.20 out to 4.80 in to 4.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Pedro’s Amaizing, which was injured in transit to the track, was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and declared a late scratching by order of the stewards at 11.40 a.m.

At about the 1000m Karalius (A. Pattillo) was steadied to avoid the heels of Drenalin (J. Wood) which shifted in when only just clear.

Near the 900m Willyclang (C. McIver) overreacted and shifted out when being steadied to avoid the heels of Abirra (J. Byrne), which shifted in when not quite clear. J. Byrne was asked to exercise care at all times when shifting ground.

Mr M. Jeynes, stable representative for trainer T. Dougall, was advised that Kneel And Raise, which commenced to hang out from the 1000m and took no further competitive part in the event from that stage, must trial to the satisfaction of the stewards before being permitted to start again. As a result of Kneel And Raise running off, some inconvenience was caused to Abirra (J. Byrne) and Willyclang (C. McIver).

A post-race veterinary examination of Millers Wheel revealed that the horse had sustained a laceration to the near-gaskin.

Apprentice J. Wood was reprimanded under AR. 145 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over his declared weight.