DOOM DEC 26 - GRACEFUL ANNA FULL OF FIGHT

By Graham Potter | Sunday, December 27, 2009

Doomben, December 26, 2009.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 5m.
Vo Rogue Plate (3yo - Set Weights) - 1350m. Time: 1-19.64.
1 Graceful Anna; 2 Shoot Out; 3 Choistar.

It was a big day out for trainer David Pfieffer who enjoyed the rare feat of saddling his first city winner in a Group 3 event when Graceful Anna prevailed in a fighting finish to hold out the well-fancied Shoot Out by a short-head in the Vo Rogue Plate.

This was the filly’s fourth successive win. She finished second on debut in July. She was then spelled for three-and-a-half months before resuming in November and she remains unbeaten this prep.

Jockey Blake Shinn had Graceful Anna smartly away. After landing in the leading line Shinn chose his spot and settled Graceful Anna on the rail just off the speed and the filly was rated at a comfortable gallop until approaching the turn where Shinn launched his attack from third place.

Graceful Anna was quickly up to second place on straightening and she got to the lead at the 250m where she kicked away strongly looking to put the result beyond her opposition.

One runner was not so easily dismissed tough. Short Out, who had cornered a 2.50 lengths behind Graceful Anna, chased the leader in determined fashion. Graceful Anna’s held a two length advantage over Shoot Out with 180m left to run. That lead was down to a length 50m from the post as Shoot Out stretched out to try and reach Graceful Anna who was fighting on tenaciously.

Shoot Out continued to gather in Graceful Anna in the final stages but a late lunge proved to be that decisive fraction too late as Graceful Anna stuck her head out to claim a hard-fought and well deserved victory.

Shoot Out, who was in front half a stride past the post, will have lost no admirers in defeat while the third placed Choistar, while never seriously in the hunt here after racing too far back early and on the inferior going in the straight, did enough to promote his credentials.

Like Shoot Out, he could be building up to something better, but this day belonged to Graceful Anna and her fine victory which will have her connections bouncing towards the Magic Millions with a ton of confidence.

It was not a bad day’s work for jockey Blake Shinn. This result gave him the Bernborough / Vo Rogue race-to-race double.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Pfieffer: “From the start of her preparation we’ve stepped her up in distance and stepped her up in grade. She just keeps improving and going forward for us. “

“I suppose today was another big test ... up in distance and up in grade again. We never had any worries about travelling with her. She is a very sensible filly. She is a natural racehorse. She’s not very big or not even the size of most racehorses, but I think she has got a bigger heart than most of them.

“She is a real trier. Like, she’ll try her absolute heart out. No matter if she is in front or behind she will try real hard. She is only a tiny little thing, but she is all heart. She is a true racehorse. When she was in front today and the other horse was coming she just dug deep and kept on going.

“The race did unfold the way we’d hoped. I was hoping we would get a lead in front and we got a nice bit of cover, especially with that back head-wind. It was a super ride. All credit to Blake Shinn. He is a super rider.

“Yeah, I’m a little bit excited. I’m probably not going to sleep that much in the next two weeks (leading into the Magic Millions). I’ll be sleeping in the box with her I think.

“Today is my first city winner. I don’t think there are too many trainers who have had their first city winner in a Group 3 and then followed up by going into a million dollar race so yeah it is exciting.”

Jockey Blake Shinn: “She had every chance from the one barrier and she settled well. It is a big sort of ask on a heavy track and going up in distance ... and probably up in grade as well ... to come out and win. She answered the call. Look she’ll be very competitive at the Gold Coast.

“She’s got good tactical speed which you can use early which is a big advantage ... I just said that to David (Pfieffer) ... and she showed today she can switch off which is a big asset. Look, she’s probably going to go up a bit in grade again, but I think she is good enough to take the next step.

“Peter Robl rode her in her previous two wins. He is a very good friend of mine. He helped me get the ride. Look, I was happy just to keep the seat warm for him and I’m happy to let him back on if he wants the ride.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Graceful Anna): 3.60 out to 3.80.
Favourite (Shoot Out): 3.20 out top 3.50. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Fifteen Carat (J. Bowditch) and Choistar (M. Cahill) were tightened for room at the start between Surf's Up (C. Reith) and Dual Chamber (D. Craven), which shifted in. Just A Piccolo (J. Taylor) was slow to begin.

Near the 1100m, Shoot Out (S. Katsidis) raced fiercely for a short distance and got its head in the air.

Passing the 800m Princess Qualo (L. Cassidy), after initially being tightened for room by Captain Sonador (A. Pattillo), which was taken in by Spot On Target (D. Nikolic), struck the heels of Femina Fashion (J. Holder), which made the 800m turn awkwardly and shifted out. In the circumstances, stewards took no direct action.

Between the 600m and 400m, Lucy's Cash, when attempting to shift out and improve made contact with Surf's Up (C. Reith) on several occasions.

Irish Dream (J. Byrne) was held up and unable to improve rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight. Captain Sonador (A. Pattillo) and Dual Chamber (D. Craven) raced wide for the majority of the event.

S. Scriven reported that Umanugget performed disappointingly over the final 300m of the race after he obtained a clear run to the outside Princess Qualo (L. Cassidy) near the 350m. A post-race veterinary examination of Umanugget failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation as to the reason J. Bowditch, rider of Fifteen Carat, failed to take a run that presented itself to the inside of Choistar (M. Cahill) upon straightening. J. Bowditch explained that, in his opinion, the inside was the inferior part of the track and therefore he was committed to move his mount wider on the track to obtain a run that had presented itself between Just A Piccolo (J. Taylor) and Redibis (K. Banks). J. Bowditch further stated that when he was in a position to make use of that run, Redibis shifted out, resulting in him having to take hold and shift Fifteen Carat to the inside of that runner in order to gain clear running. The explanation was noted.

A post-race veterinary examination of Princess Qualo failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.