EF DEC 16 - SPANISH FLING IN HARD FOUGHT WIN

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

Eagle Farm, December 16, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m.
Class 5 Handicap - 1000m. Time: 57.48.
1 Spanish Fling; 2 Tonkatsu; 3 Blue Jupiter.

The Pat Duff trained Spanish Fling scored a smart first-up win when he she did it at both ends to secure the fourth win of her career in her fourteenth start.

The four-year-old, who was resuming here after a four-and-a-half month layoff, had the gate-speed to cross her field and take up the running after the field had raced 150m.

Tonkatsu, who jumped from the barrier immediately outside Spanish Fling went with the Pat Duff runner and she settled in second spot just 0.75 lengths off the front-runner on its outside. Snorkel was the other one to begin well. He jumped from pole position and settled in third place on the rail a little over a length off the lead. At that stage Blue Jupiter raced in midfield hugging the rail.

That’s how the field got to the turn. Tonkatsu then continued to pressure Spanish Fling all the way down the home straight.

Snorkel was also right there throughout the battle in the run home. He had drawn the short straw though and he remained trapped behind Spanish Fling, held there by Tonkatsu on his outside, until very late in the piece where he finally slipped into the gap between the two leaders and charged home.

Blue Jupiter, who had come from four lengths back halfway up the straight, also ranged up to join the fray and these four runners went to the line together in a really pressurised battle for the honours.

Try as the other three might, Spanish Fling was not going to be denied. She was in front all of the way and put her head down on the line to confirm her supremacy in the day, albeit by the narrowest of margins from Tonkatsu, Blue Jupiter and Snorkel.

While clinging to the lead under a determined ride from apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer, Spanish Fling did run around a little bit … just enough for Snorkel’s rider Stathi Katsidis to have a look at the patrol film, but not enough for him to take any action.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Pat Duff: “She’s got a very good first up record that mare. I think that’s the third time she’s been able to win first-up. Her first start in a race she won and then she won first-up in her preparation last time. She races well first-up … 1000m first up is a nice race for her. I’m surprised she wasn’t 6-4.

"It would be interesting to see what time they ran, they would have run along a bit.

“She is actually nominated for the fillies race at the Magic Millions, so she’ll proceed towards that. I think as she goes through her preparation she’ll step up a bit in distance. She’ll probably run in a fillies race here in town, a Class 6, in about a fortnight and then she’ll head towards that race at the Magic Millions and go from there.

“She’s a lovely bred filly. She is one of the few horses around that is out of a Vain mare … one of the last of the Vain mares. She is a beautifully bred filly and she’s a quality animal, you know.”

Jockey Michael Hellyer: “It was a great win. She just had too much class for them obviously.

“She is unbeaten first up. Pat (Duff) was very confident going into it. She had a trial about a week ago, but I trialled her before that and she trialled really well. My only worry was fitness. I thought she might need the run. In the end she knocked up a hundred out, like she was knocking up, but in the end her class let her hold on.

“I dunno what Pat’s got in mind for her. Obviously while there are claiming races, hopefully Pat will keep throwing me on. If she does go in one of those Listed races hopefully, you know, the owners like to stick with me. We’ll just see what happens, I am just happy with that win today anyway.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Spanish Fling): 4.60 out to 5.50 in to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Shortly after the start, Lennon (L. Cassidy) had to be eased to avoid the heels of Montanus (M. Bennett), which shifted in when not fully clear.

Near the 700m, Montanus shifted in, making contact with Youcantseeme (C. Reith). Leaving the 400m, S. Katsidis, rider of Snorkel anticipated Spanish Fling (M. Hellyer) shifting out, however at the 300m had to be steadied when disappointed for a run where there was not fully sufficient room to the inside of Spanish Fling. After leaving the 100m, Snorkel was then held up for clear running.

Luskin's Agenda (M. Radecker) raced wide throughout.