GCST JAN 02 - HUMMA’S HAT-TRICK

By Graham Potter | Monday, January 4, 2010

Gold Coast, January 2, 2010,
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True.
Open Handicap - 2200m. Time: 2-22.16 (carrying 57kg).
1 Humma; 2 Yield Curve; 3 Kentish Rose.

It is supposed to get harder for a horse the further he progresses, but Humma’s third successive victory in his current winning streak was the easiest one of all.

The concern for the going and the suspect speed in a five horse race made little difference to the six-year-old. If anything, it had more of an adverse effect on Humma’s market rival Forbes, who sat at the back throughout, was chasing early on the turn and never improved to finish a well-beaten last.

It was an authoritative win by Humma who claimed his eighth career success and it took his earnings through the $300000 mark.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “I was a little bit surprised that people thought Forbes was such a danger to Humma. I thought Forbes fell in the other day and the horse he beat (Under The Counter) ... I thought it was a little bit lucky to win the start before, so I thought Humma actually had the class edge on them by quite a long way.

“I was a little bit disappointed about the speed of the race. I though Kelvin (Wharton, the rider Kentish Rose, the second Heathcote runner in the race) should have taken it up and served it to Larson (the early leader). It probably cost him second place.

“In saying that, there is no better rider in this state on this track than G. Colless. At the end of the day the horse is flying and the doubts they may have had about him staying ... ok, that probably didn’t turn into a staying race today, but he’s won three open races in-a-row ... second in a Listed race (the Recognition) leading in to them ... and he’s doing it with weight.

“There is another one of these races in a couple of week’s time and another one two weeks later, so whilst he is racing in such form we’ll be going around and taking the cheques.”

Jockey Glen Colless: “Yeah, lack of speed didn’t really sort of suit it, but it had a pretty nice run in the race once they sort of quickened down the back straight. It was funny once they got into the back-straight they sort of quickened for probably half a furlong and then they pulled back up again.

“So he’s done a good job the horse. He had a bit of weight and he finished off well. He always had them covered.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Humma): 1.90 out to 2.05 in to 2.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACTS:
For some distance approaching and passing the 1600m Yield Curve (N. Evans) over-raced and had to be steadied off the heels of Humma (G. Colless). Yield Curve was allowed to stride forward to a position outside of the leader approaching the 1300m.

Stewards sought an explanation from J. Byrne rider of Forbes regarding the performance of that gelding today. J. Byrne stated that the horse at its last start turned in a dour effort and raced in the same fashion today, whereby when the pace increased near the 800m Forbes was immediately under pressure and failed to accelerate and only finished the race off fairly. J. Byrne indicated that in his opinion the horse had come to the end of its preparation.

A post race veterinary examination of Forbes revealed no significant abnormalities and a swab sample was taken.