DOOM DEC 05 - HUMMA MAKES NO MISTAKE

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, December 7, 2009

Doomben, December 5, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Open Handicap - 2020m. Time: 2-04.45.
1 Humma; 2 Showciti; 3 Sir Kingsford.

Humma had run himself into form with a second placing behind the more-than-useful Secrets Untold last time over 1600m. The six-year-old did have a previous win over 1900m to his credit, but that result was achieved as long ago as November 2008 (before he was in the care of trainer Robert Heathcote), so this 2020m trip did represent a new test ... and it was one which Humma passed with flying colours.

Humma raced all alone in midfield in fifth spot as Gather and Baha set a moderate early gallop. Jockey Larry Cassidy was well aware of the need to be closer to the action when launching his challenge off the ordinary tempo and he quickly moved Humma up around runners in the sweep to the turn to be up with the leaders, three wide, on straightening.

Cassidy pushed Humma to the head of affairs with 200m left to run. Once there, the gelding was never in danger of defeat although Showciti did emerge from the pack to chase home well enough to earn a game second placing. Sir Kingsford did best of the rest, making up good ground from behind without ever threatening the first two finishers.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “At the handicap and the way it worked out, he had a fair bit on them.

“Look, he is a horse that when he first came to me they said that he might struggle at 2000m. He came to me having raced over 1900m, 2000m down in Sydney and the lads thought that maybe he wasn’t quite getting it at that stage. We bought him up, freshened him up and I’ve had a lot of success racing him up to the mile.

“I just think his runs over the mile up until last week have been fantastic. They have been those sit and sprint races and I looked at the program and I even said to the owners as recently as two weeks ago ... I said, you know, I might embark on a bit of a staying campaign with him.

“Low and behold, I threw this horse in as a late nom for this race. I was going to run him in a 2000m staying race in three weeks time. I said look at the low noms ... let’s have look at the race and as it has turned out it has worked out great. So he has made his first crack at... that’s his first Open company win, even though he has run a couple of nice races in Open company.

“The owners have got another one that raced at Canterbury the other night. He is a little bit the same. He’s won four, he’s won $200,000. He is finding it a little bit hard to further his career, so with a bit of luck I’ll get him up here as well. It furthers their career. How many of these Sydney trainers are saying how well their horses do when they come up here? It’s a big advantage.”

“Once again Larry (Cassidy) got off the horse and said, that’s why I get paid the big dollars. He made the right decision. They came home in 34 seconds and made it impossible to run him down.

“I think two weeks time there is a 2000m race ... two weeks after that 2100m ... two weeks after that 2200. All open company. Then he’ll have a break and come back for the carnival.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “You know with the speed they went I thought well, I didn’t really want to be sitting back here and waiting and waiting for one to come out and take me into it. I thought... I was hoping they would get going then because of the speed of the race and when they elected to stay I thought if I go now, they might have to wait.

“I was just lucky I wasn’t pushed out further because I was able to get up three deep and then I was able to sit again. With the big weight I knew we were going to run home a sub 35 and they wouldn’t be able to beat us.

“He possibly could make it as a middle distance stayer. It’s silly after winning a 2000m race saying that he can’t stay. You know, it wasn’t one of the strongest races. But one thing, when he gets in better company he is going to come down in weights. You know, he relaxed well enough and he can sprint home, so you just never know.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Humma): 2.50 in to 2.40 out to 2.80.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Baha (J. Byrne) and Sir Kingsford (M. Hellyer) were slow to begin. Sir Kingsford over-raced in the middle stages.

Stewards sought an explanation from jockey A. Spinks and trainer J. Thomas regarding the performance of Moon Chaser. A. Spinks stated that, in his opinion, the gelding failed to back up from its last start at Eagle Farm on 28 November, adding that when the speed of the race increased leaving the 700m, Moon Chaser could not accelerate however he was still making ground over the concluding stages.

Trainer J. Thomas also believed that Moon Chaser failed to back up today from its last start and advised stewards he would be continuing with the horse's current preparation. A post-race veterinary examination of Moon Chaser failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

B. Pengelly reported that, in his opinion, Danardos failed to run out the 2020 metres of today's race.

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