SCST NOV 29 - SMIRNOFF LASS GETS HER WIN

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 29, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Maiden Handicap - 1600. Time: 1-39.43.
1 Smirnoff Lass; 2 No Hurry; 3 Swift Cash.

Smirnoff Lass gave trainer Bryan Guy the first leg of a race-to race double when she easily came home over the top of her field to score by 2.50 lengths.

While the quality of the race was questionable Smirnoff Lass did manage to post a favourable 6.30 length turnaround with the year older, second placed No Hurry, who had beaten the three-year-old comfortably in their last clash, albeit over a longer distance. Both runners were dropping back in distance here (from 2070m to 1600m).

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bryan Guy: “It’s a full sister to Use To be A Dancer which goes well, but so far she’s only shown very limited ability … but she’s won now. She’s won today … she’s won a race for them so they’ll be happy with that.

“We tried her over the 2000 but she never got it last start. If you have a look she ran ninth … well the horse that ran eighth (No Hurry) was the horse that ran second today, so that puts today’s race in perspective.”

PRICE FLUCTATIONS:
Winner (Smirnoff Lass): 6.00 out to 7.00.
Favourite (Miss Breanna): 3.60 in to 3.40 out to 3.50. Finished twelfth (Bled).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Miss Breanna (M. Morris) jumped outwards at the start, making contact with the hind quarters of Bengurion (S. Guymer). This resulted in Bengurion shifting in and bumping with Biscay’s Best (M. Palmer). Near the 800m, Bengurion shifted in and brushed Lovers Truce (K. Forrester).

Swift Cash (K.Wharton) had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the straight until near the 200m. Approaching the 150m, Lovers Truce (K. Forrester) shifted out around the heels of the tiring Weslang (A. Spinks). As a result, Raw Sienna (P. Hammersley) had to be eased to avoid the heels of Lovers Truce. K. Forrester, rider of Lovers Truce, was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. Bent Penny (J. Murphy) raced wide without cover throughout.

A. Spinks, rider of Weslang, explained that he was instructed to ride the gelding off the pace today with cover, however, as the tempo was slow during the middle stages he was forced to race three wide without cover and he elected to ride the gelding forward from the 800m.

M. Morris, rider of Miss Breanna, was reminded of his obligations under the rules to desist from using his whip on runners when they are not responding. Miss Breanna bled from both nostrils during the race. Trainer J. Holcombe was advised that the filly would be barred from racing for a period of three months.