DOOM DEC 26 - JOKU SIMPLY TOO STRONG IN BERNBOROUGH

By Graham Potter | Sunday, December 27, 2009

Doomben, December 26, 2009.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 5m.
Bernborough Handicap (Quality - Listed) - 1630m. Time: 1-37.22.
1 Joku; 2 Alverta; 3 Absent Friends.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse sent two runners to Doomben. One of them (Extreme Mover in the BJ McLachlan Stakes) didn’t want soft going. Joku, on the other hand, thrived on a slow track and he duly outgunned his rivals to claim his eighth win in his eighteenth start. The gelding also has seven minor placings to his credit, a fact which underlines his consistency and competitiveness.

For the record, Joku has now won three times and been placed second on three occasions from seven starts on wet tracks. It is a point well worth noting.

Joku landed in the leading line before settling in fifth spot on the rail in the early part. The five-year-old was up to fourth down the back straight and then moved into third place halfway through the contest travelling really well on the back of a strong speed being set by Rockdale who was being tracked by Rags To Riches.

Joku quickly dispatched Rags To Riches in the sweep to the home turn and then went up to eyeball Rockdale on straightening. Allowed to drift out into the better going, Joku moved into the lead full of running early in the straight.

Joku had been followed through by Express Air who now became the immediate danger, but that threat didn’t materialise as Express Air failed to pick up the tempo over the final 250m. It was left to Alverta and Absent Friends to come out of the pack and chase the winner home, but they were always only shooting for a consolation prize as Joku had them all covered, at every stage of the running.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Blake Shinn: “Yeah, what you see with Joku is what you get. He is a very honest performer and, you know, he deserved a victory at this level. He is very consistent. Today things went his way ... he got the split and he won really well.

“I was happy with where I landed. He always travelled well. When Rags To Riches was just starting to get a little bit tired I angled off the rail. I was able to put him where I wanted to in the straight. He hit the line really well.

“He has been competitive beyond a mile and probably today’s race was more like an 1800m with Rockdale setting a good, genuine tempo. I’m not quite sure what Gai (Waterhouse) has got in mind, but I’ve got no doubt if she has a race further than 1600m it would be within his grasp.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Joku): 3.50 out to 4.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Passing the 1200m, Barlinnie (J. Holder) became awkward on the heels of Our Lukas (L. Cassidy) and shifted in, taking My Limit (S. Katsidis) in on to Absent Friends (J. Taylor), which had to be steadied.

S. Katsidis, rider of My Limit, was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift out near the 700m, making heavy contact with Our Lukas (L. Cassidy).

Near the 200m, the tiring Barlinnie had to be steadied when tightened for room between Regal Castanea (A. Pattillo) and Centover (J. Bowditch), both of which shifted ground.

Tagus (M. Palmer) and Secrets Untold (K. Yoshida) were forced to race in restricted room for a short distance nearing the 100m to the inside of Rags To Riches (C. Reith), which shifted in when tiring.

S. Scriven, rider of Alverta, was reprimanded for raising his arm above shoulder height when using his whip over the concluding stages.

Stewards sought an explanation from M. Cahill in respect of the performance of Pepperwood. M. Cahill indicated the performance, in his opinion, had merit in that he was placed behind the tiring Barlinnie and Our Lukas when he was attempting to improve into the race and as a result he was forced to make a wide run. M. Cahill added that Pepperwood made steady ground in the straight, and, in his opinion, was looking for further distance in its races at this stage of its preparation.

Stewards questioned S. Katsidis, rider of My Limit, as to the reason he progressed wide on the track from approaching the 600m when there appeared to be an opportunity to trail Alverta. S. Katsidis stated that at the horse's most recent start it had been held up in the straight and subsequently connections were of the opinion that the horse performs best when taken wide and given an unimpeded run to the finish. S. Katsidis added that the horse, in his opinion, raced dour and advised stewards that connections intended to spell the horse. The explanation was noted.

J. Holder, rider of Barlinnie, reported that the gelding raced fiercely in the middle stages and, in his opinion, failed to handle today's track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination of Barlinnie failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

A post-race veterinary examination of Spot On Target revealed the colt to be making an abnormal respiratory noise and was lame in the off-foreleg. Trainer H. Wilson will be advised that he would be required to provide veterinary clearance, including the results of an endoscopic examination prior to its next race start.