EF DEC 16 - KIDDING SCORES BREAKTHROUGH VICTORY

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Eagle Farm, December 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m.
Maiden Plate (3yo - Fillies - Set Weights) - 1200m. Time: 1-11.89.
1 Kidding; 2 Love A Sequalo; 3 Cool Rapids.

The Liam Birchley trained Kidding came good in her third run for the stable to win under a confident, largely hands and heels ride from jockey Michael Cahill.

Cahill settled Kidding in fourth spot just off the speed in the early part before pushing her up into third position, swinging three wide on the turn. Kidding still had to run down the horses out in front, but it was the two runners immediately behind her who would cause the filly more concern than the task of reeling in the leaders.

That first objective was achieved with relative ease as Kidding dismissed the challenge of the early front-runners to find the lead coming through the 200m mark. The problem was that filly had two runners in tow. Love A Sequalo, who had tracked the Birchley runner throughout, was racing a length back on the outside of Kidding while Cool Rapids, who had momentarily been held up in traffic, was challenging immediately on the inside of Kidding.

The race came down to this three way battle, with Kidding under a two-pronged attack, but she was always travelling the best of the three runners and she maintained a one length advantage to the line to beat Love A Sequalo and Cool Rapids into second and third respectively, with just a nose separating the minor place-getters.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “That’s her third run for me. We are probably going to give her a break. She’s been up in Sydney and had a prep there and travelled up here and sort of got a bit of confidence the last couple of runs. So we might just give her a break and then next time try her over a bit further when she’s a bit stronger.

“We’ve got nothing special in mind at the moment. She only just won her maiden so hopefully it’s a matter of finding out her range, what her range is and that.”

Jockey Michael Cahill: “She landed in the right spot. She just seems to have got a bit better each run I’ve ridden her. I have ridden her three runs since she has come north. Her first run here at the 1000 they were a bit too quick for her and the other day she probably would have gone close but she didn’t jump the best... She went steady.

“Today she landed in the right spot. She had a good kick from the furlong. She’s a well bred filly. If she can run a mile there’s a chance for her, you know.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Kidding): 3.20 out to 3.40.
Favourite (Cool Rapids): 1.70 in to 1.65. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
J. Byrne was dislodged from Ishi Classic when proceeding to the barriers. J. Byrne was cleared by the club's doctor to fulfill his engagement.

Fiesta Gal reared in the barriers, dislodging A Pattillo. When it reared, it got its off-side fetlock entangled in the reins of Ishi Classic, which was drawn to its inside. When Ishi Classic was being removed from the barriers for a veterinary examination, the bridle became dislodged and the horse then galloped for some distance before being recaptured.

As Fiesta Gal had failed a veterinary examination and Ishi Classic had galloped some distance, stewards accepted the advice from the veterinary surgeon who recommended both horses be withdrawn.

Connections of Fiesta Gal were advised that they would be required to provide two barrier certificates for Fiesta Gal prior to its next race start. A. Pattillo was examined by the club's doctor and stood down from his remaining engagements.

Back Stage (R. Wiggins) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, brushing Kidding (M. Cahill). Geneva Gold (D. Griffin) jumped away awkwardly. Mishani Shiva (M. Hellyer) and Love A Sequalo (L. Cassidy) were a little slow to begin.

Leaving the 900m, Mishani Shiva had to be checked when the pace slowed after it improved on to the heels of Back Stage.

Leaving the 300m, Fairlady (J. Bowditch) made contact with Back Stage when it shifted in and away from Cool Rapids (S. Katsidis), which shifted in when cramped for room by Kidding (M. Cahill), which shifted in slightly. Back Stage was held up for clear running until the 200m.

When questioned as to his riding of Back Stage in the early stages, R. Wiggins stated that he had been instructed to have the horse positioned on the fence and as the horse had over-raced at its previous start, he was reluctant to bustle Back Stage and allowed it to settle a little worse than midfield on the rails. The explanation was accepted.