EF DEC 12 - PEPPERWOOD BACK TO HIS BEST

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Eagle Farm, December 12, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 1m.
Quality Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-34.31.
1 Pepperwood; 2 My Limit; 3 Secrets Untold.

Pepperwood announced his arrival back on the scene in no uncertain terms when scoring a convincing victory in a competitive line-up. It was not just the result, but the fluent way in which Pepperwood went about taking care of business that re-established his credentials for upcoming feature events during the summer.

It is important to note that Pepperwood finished second in this race last year before going on the land a feature race double when taking out the Bernborough (Quality – Listed) and then the Magic Millions Stayers Cup. So he is already one step ahead this year. The question now is whether he can emulate his feats of last season - trainer Liam Birchley has confirmed Pepperwood has been set on the same course. On this showing, he would appear to have every chance of doing so.

Jockey Michael Cahill settled Pepperwood in the second half of the field early as Rockdale surged around the field to cut out a healthy gallop up front. Pepperwood was still worse than midfield, back in eighth place, approaching the turn.

At that stage Pepperwood was racing along the inside and was tracking the race favourite My Limit. Cahill made a crucial, race-winning decision on straightening. As My Limit was caught in restricted galloping room and went back to the inside in the hope of following the ever-consistent Secrets Untold through on the rail, Cahill elected to switch Pepperwood out across heels. It took a while - all the way until the 250m mark - for Cahill to get Pepperwood where he wanted to be, but once in the clear Pepperwood quickly built momentum.

As Pepperwood lengthened his stride, Secrets Untold became the target as the top weight hit the front at the 200m mark. Secrets Untold was full of fight, but Pepperwood was not going to be denied and Cahill only had to ride him hands and heels in the closing stages as claim victory by 0.80 lengths.

My Limit rallied late, after being held up in the straight, to take second place away from Secrets Untold.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “Yeah, he is a real genuine sort of miler. He runs his best races when the pace is good and then he really hits the line well.

“That was his fourth run back today, but he had nine months off before that so it was a good effort to be able to do that over a mile. He actually won his fourth start back last time in. It was in the Bernborough last year. I thought it might have taken him one more run this time to really hit his top, but he did it well and hopefully there is a couple of more wins left.

“They ran along so they strung out a bit which made it easier for him from the wide draw. I still think he’ll take some improvement out of that. I think Michael (Cahill) has ridden him twice now for two wins.

“We probably head for the Bernborough again and then the probably the Stayers Cup at the Gold Coast.”

Jockey Michael Cahill: “I have ridden him before. I won on the horse as a two-year-old. I think it was his second start in a race. He was impressive that day too. He came from the tail of the field and finished strong. Yeah, years have gone by (Pepperwood is now a five-year-old) and he’s racing in the same pattern again today.

“He certainly appreciated the tempo. The pace was genuine. It was run to suit him. The further we went the more confident I got in the horse. He really let go once we managed to get to the outside.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pepperwood): 4.00 out to 4.80.
Favourite (My Limit): 3.40 out to 3.70. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
My Limit (S. Katsidis), Absent Friends (A. Spinks), Pay Me (C. Reith) and Uncle Jan (C. McIver) were all tightened for room on jumping away between Kentish Rose (K. Wharton) and Deception Bay (J. Holder), which shifted out on jumping away. Absent Friends had to be checked and lost ground in this incident.

S. Seamer reported that Rockdale jumped away awkwardly, losing ground. Following the disappointing performance of Rockdale, S. Seamer reported that his instructions were to lead on the horse and as a result of losing ground at the start he had to make use of the horse early to comply with his instructions to lead, however Rockdale refused to settle once he assumed the lead and the horse compounded due it over-racing.

My Limit was held up in the early stages of the straight. My Limit lost its off-hind plate in running.

Stewards sought an explanation from S. Katsidis, rider of My Limit, as to whether there was any possible opportunity to shift wider on the track approaching the home turn.

S. Katsidis stated that he had considered moving wider to follow Sam's Express, however he did not wish to risk being pocketed by Deception Bay, which was racing back and to the outside of Sam's Express, and as an alternative he elected to follow the fancied runner in Secrets Untold, which enabled him to secure clear running from leaving the 300m.