DOOM DEC 09 - THE SIXTIES A HIT AT DOOMBEN

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Friday, December 11, 2009

Doomben, December 9, 2009.
Track - Good 2. Rail - out 11m.
Class 5 Handicap - 1110m. Time: 1-03.79.
1 The Sixties; 2 Je Ne Sais Pas; 3 Jad.

The Sixties was full of running in the early part. Settled in fourth by jockey Christian Reith, the gelding improved up to third in the approach to the turn, where he switched out three wide to go after the two leaders Wigndove and Ben Hur.

That battle was won just inside the 200m mark as The Sixties surged into the lead, but the job was not done yet. Reith had to stay hard at work on the chestnut to get him to hold his advantage to the line as Je Ne Sais Pas and Jad flashed home late to threaten the result.

In the end a long-neck and a half-neck were the margins separating the first three runners past the post, highlighting just how tight things had got over the final few strides.

The Sixties has a healthy strike-rate of four wins from twelve starts. The gelding has also been placed on four occasions.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tracy Green: “Yeah, he jarred up really, really badly when he ran third last start. I had to put him out for two weeks. He was really sore. Then we just brought him back and we are aiming for the Magic Millions day.

“People underestimate him. That’s the first time he has ever drawn an alley in his life so that was good ... and he settled a bit today which was even better. Happy with that. He’ll have one more run on December 28 and then he’ll go on to the Magic Millions.”

Jockey Christian Reith: “He is a nice little sprinter. Tracy (Green) is trying to get him ready for the Magic Millions ... trying to get him in. I think with the win today he qualifies to get in to some of those races.

“He is a funny horse. He is a bit wayward. It’s not immaturity because he has had enough starts. I think he is just a green racing horse. I think that is just the character of the horse. He is not real confident. I think that is why he races a lot better in front. It gives him more confidence.

“He’s a lot better horse in front, but with the speed today he wasn’t able to do that, but if races are run like that and he can sit just in behind them, well you are always going to finish over the top of them when they go that hard, aren’t you? So it was a good win coming from behind.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (The Sixties): 3.50 out to 4.40 in to 4.20.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Laurels (J. Byrne) was slow to begin. Slugsbrothernugget (M. Palmer) stood flatfooted at the start and lost considerable ground. After considering the horse's unblemished record, stewards placed a warning on the gelding.

L. Cassidy, rider of Ben Hur, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that approaching the 1000m he allowed his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Chaski, which was taken in on to Jokingly, which in turn shifted in, making contact with the hind quarters of The Sixties, which resulted in that horse shifting out, further tightening the running of both Jokingly (M. Hellyer) and Chaski (C. McIver), ultimately resulting in M. Hellyer having to check Jokingly. L. Cassidy was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 13 December and to expire at midnight, 27 December 2009.

J. Wood, rider of Jad, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount shifting in near the 800m, resulting in Jokingly (M. Hellyer) being tightened onto the running rail and having to be checked by its rider. J. Wood was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 9 meetings, to commence at midnight, 13 December and to expire at midnight, 30 December.

Ocean Journey (K. Wharton) was unable to secure clear running from the 200m. Near the finish line, Firedrake (S. Katsidis) shifted in, tightening the running of Chaski (C. McIver), which had to be steadied.

Jokingly broke down in the off foreleg. Stewards ordered that if the gelding returns to racing, a veterinary certificate of fitness must be provided.