SCST DEC 20 - FALPLAY FIRES FIRST-UP

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Sunshine Coast, December 20, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m.
3yo & Up Maiden Handicap - 1000m. Time: 1-00.02.
1 Falplay; 2 Munbura Flyer; 3 Tony's Pride.

This was a positive comeback to racing for the Stewart Mackinnon trained Falplay who scored first-up when resuming after a five month layoff.

The gelding, who was having his first run for the MacKinnon stable, had a throat operation during his time away the track and the benefit of that surgery was clear to see.

Jockey Christian Reith settled Falplay in a close-up fifth spot, just off the speed, in the early part. The gelding was up to third on straightening and Reith wasted little time in going after Pure Slip and Munbara Flyer who were out disputing the lead.

Munbara Flyer got the better of Pure Slip with 250m left to run, but Falplay was now closing up quickly on that duo and he moved forward to join issue with Munbara Flyer in a spirited battle over the last 120m. Munbara Flyer was always going slightly the better of the two, but it was only over the last 50m that he was able to edge away to secure his comeback victory.

Falplay’s first win had arrived in his eighth career start.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Stewart McKinnon: “This is its first start for me. The horse has had a wind operation and I think that was a big thing for him, you know ... getting rid of the wind problem, so I thought he would give a forward showing with a bit of improvement in the horse.”

Jockey Christian Reith: “Yeah, he’s had a throat operation. He’s improved and he’ll improve on that run again. He’d had enough towards the end, but Stewart (McKinnon) said to me before I got on that it’s only about ninety percent fit. Instead of trialling he thought he’d run it. So it’s a good result.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After being placed in the barriers, Ivors Girl became fractious and struck its head on the front gate. Ivors Girl was subsequently declared a late scratching at 1.42 pm on veterinary advice. Trainer S. Croxford was advised he must obtain two further barrier certificates for Ivors Girl prior to its next race start.

Flybefree (J. Wood) began awkwardly and then was tightened for room between Balli Balli (S. Katsidis), which shifted out, and Persian Story (M. Hellyer), which shifted in slightly.

Stewards sought an explanation from S. Katsidis regarding the performance of Balli Balli. S. Katsidis stated that the horse travelled well but failed to respond to his riding over the concluding stages. S. Katsidis added that, in his opinion, the horse may be better suited ridden with a sit over a slightly longer distance than that of today's race.