SCST DEC 20 - GOLDEN CASH STRIKES PAYDIRT

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Sunshine Coast, December 20, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 3m.
Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 1400m. Time: 1-26.44.
1 Golden Cash; 2 Sir Lister; 3 Bokarina.

The Maryann Thexton trained Golden Cash got the cash here claiming his first win in his fourth start.

The gelding has proved to be a handful to ride, doing several things wrong as he goes about learning his craft ... and this run was no exception. Golden Cash jumped beautifully, landing in the lead, but he then proceeded to fight his rider and while jockey Kelly Purdy did take control, the indiscretion did cost Golden Cash ground as he slipped all the way back to seventh place.

Once Golden Cash settled Purdy was able to ask him to make up ground in the sweep to the turn and he was travelling well in fifth spot, three wide racing next to Bundilla Thrill, when the field straightened. At that stage Golden Cash was some four-and-a-half lengths behind the clear leader Dylanjames with Sir Lister, who would come into the picture later, a further three lengths behind Golden Cash.

Golden Cash and Bundilla Thrill made their runs at the same time and they got to the front, going past a tiring Dylanjames with 180m left to run looking likely to fight out the finish. As it turned out, Golden Cash took the measure of Bundilla Thrill as early as the 100m mark, but he then had to knuckle down to hold off the determined challenge of Sir Lister who was running on strongly from behind.

Golden Cash had something extra left at the finish at he put those reserves to good use in spite of hanging out over the concluding stages while Sir Lister, who had made up many lengths in the straight to move up to challenge Golden Cash, momentarily ran up behind the heels of Golden Cash which marginally disrupted his momentum.

Sir Lister’s run peaked soon after that and he had to settle for settle place as Golden Cash stayed on ahead of him to claim a breakthrough win by 0.50 lengths.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Maryann Thexton: “Yeah he is a very erratic, wayward horse and he bucked in his first start and he ran off the track the second start. So he has been back to trials twice in-between races. So he has had something like six trials and three races.

“I rather suspect ... he tried to do it again today ... so I rather suspect that we may have to do a bit more work, but I’m going to send him to the paddock now and give him more time. He’s got the win on the board.

“Then we can do a nice, normal prep. Give him two or three trials ... whatever it takes ... and then send him back to the races.

“We’ve known he has had a ton of ability this horse from day one and he should just really have won his first couple of races. Today, we wanted to lead and he flew to lead, but then he went to do a few things wrong so Kelly (Purdy) was flat-out staying on him for a furlong so he lost his ground. Then he balanced and got home really well. So, in the end, I’m very happy with the result.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Kinaroo (J. Letherby) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, making heavy contact with Count Iglesia (K. Mizobe). Little Rosie (M. Palmer) shifted in abruptly across the heels of Universal Brave (S. Seamer) shortly after the start.

After passing the 1300m, Golden Cash (K. Purdy) attempted to buck for some distance and as a result shifted in, resulting in No Shackles (G. Geran) being severely checked. Trainer M. Thexton indicated that Golden Cash would now be sent for a spell. Mrs Thexton was advised that Golden Cash must perform satisfactorily in two official barrier trials prior to racing again.

G. Geran, rider of No Shackles, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that near the 1200m he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of Little Rosie (M. Palmer), resulting in Little Rosie being tightened onto the running rail and having to be checked. G. Geran was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 20 December and to expire at midnight, 1 January 2010.

Golden Cash (K. Purdy) shifted out under pressure over the final 200m. Sir Lister (R. Wiggins) raced three wide without cover throughout.

K. Pope, rider of Rusty Trawler, which performed poorly, explained that from the wide barrier the gelding settled back in the field, and when placed under pressure after passing the 600m, failed to respond to his riding and proved disappointing.

Stewards sought an explanation from R. McMahon regarding the riding tactics adopted on Bokarina, which settled in a forward position today, which was in contrast to its most recent starts.

R. McMahon explained that he was instructed to settle the horse back in the field with cover, however after beginning well and when a number of runners were interfered with to his inside as a result of Golden Cash attempting to buck, he was left without an opportunity to gain cover and consequently Bokarina over-raced and subsequently took up a forward position.