GCST JAN 02 - SWEEPSTAKING IN LAST GASP WIN

By Graham Potter | Monday, January 4, 2010

Gold Coast, January 2, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - True.
QTIS 3yo Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-10.68. (Carrying 51kg).
1 Sweepstaking; 2 Fast Lover; 3 Temple Of Boom.

In a race of many talking points, the Gillian Heinrich trained Sweepstaking dropped in class from the Group 1 company in Sydney to score a scintillating, come-from-behind victory in this QTIS 3yo Handicap.

The filly was outclassed by Denman in the Golden Rose over 1400m at Rosehill last time out in the final start of her second prep. She resumed fresh here after a little over a four month layoff, was fitted with blinkers for the first time and reverted to 1200m for her first-up run.

All of these factors combined with an intelligent ride by apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer and the horses own will to win proved to be a winning recipe as Sweepstaking cut down the luckless Fast Lover in the shadow of the post for a last-gasp win.

Both Sweepstaking and the race favourite Deer Valley were drawn very wide in the sixteen horse field. Both elected to drop out from the draw and go back ... Sweepstaking to second last, Deer Valley to last. As the field stretched out ahead of them, these two contenders were not only well back in terms of place position, they were way out of ground with in terms of lengths behind. Sweepstaking was all of twelve lengths off the action in the early part and he was two lengths clear of Deer Valley.

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer, aboard Sweepstaking, knew exactly what he wanted to do and he put his plan into effect early in the approach to the turn. Hellyer angled Sweepstaking hard out across heels, switching wide at pace as he both built momentum and found his way into clear running. Sweepstaking eventually straightened eight wide still some ten lengths off the leader.

Apprentice jockey Daniel Ganderton, the rider of Deer Valley, made no such early decision. He seemed to have an uncertain game-plan as he stayed towards the inside in a move which was to guarantee him on-going traffic problems in the straight as the filly predictably struggled to find a run, a factor which cost her dearly. Ganderton’s ride would earn him a ‘please explain’ call from the stewards.

Temple Of Boom and Fields Of Plenty became the target halfway up the straight as the tearaway early leader Alesprit fell by the wayside. Sweepstaking was flying down the outside, the widest runner on the track, and Fast Lover, who had also raced in the second half of the field for most of the trip, was now accelerating into contention.

Fast Lover angled in, found a gap along the inside and stormed home. He got past Temple Of Boom and Field Of Plenty late in the running looking every inch a winner, but Sweepstaking flew up late to snatch first prize in the final stride to land a big win in a pressurised finish as only 1.50 lengths covered the first five runners across the line.

This was Sweepstaking’s third win from six starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Michael Hellyer: “I tell you what it was just an awesome feeling the win. When I got the call from (trainer) Gillian Heinrich this morning for the ride I was absolutely rapt. I knew I had a good ride. It was just a task from the alley that was all.

“The instructions were if I could be fifth or sixth just be there ... if I was going to be wide go back. I got cut off at the start so under the circumstances I had to go back anyway. I knew I had (the favourite) Deer Valley pocketed in there and when I got to the 600 I knew I had a lapful of horse underneath me and it was a just a question of when to push the button.

“She is a tough little thing. Like there is not much of her, but I tell there is a lot of heart there. I think her heart is bigger than her body. She just really dug deep. I tell you it is the best feeling when you come from last ... or near last ... and you are going around the field and you know you’ve got a quality horse ... it is just the best feeling. I’m on cloud nine mate.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sweepstaking): 6.00 out to 9.00 out to 11.00 in to 7.00.
Favourite (Deer Valley): 2.70 out to 3.30 out to 3.40.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer G. Heinrich was fined the sum of $100.00 for late declaration of rider for Sweepstaking. As P. Hammersley was overweight stewards permitted R. McMahon to be substituted as the rider of Freton. P. Hammersley was subsequently fined the sum of $200.00.

Sweepstaking (App M. Hellyer) and Deer Valley (App D. Ganderton) were tightened for room on jumping away between Al Mazaya (M. Morris), which shifted out and Knot Out (G. Colless), which was taken in by Startling Pleasure (A. Pattillo).

Emma's Heart (App M. Speers) shifted in at the start making heavy contact with Bob And Dolly (D. Griffin). Emma's Heart then shifted out bumping Shogold (J. Lyon). Andy Said (J. Taylor) and Freton (R. McMahon) made heavy contact on jumping away.

Near the 800m Emma's Heart improved up onto the heels of Fast Lover (J. Byrne) and when being restrained shifted out. Knot Out, Our Dreaming (D. Craven) and Shogold all raced wide for the majority of the event.

A post race veterinary examination of Bob And Dolly revealed the gelding to be sore in the near-hind leg. Trainer J. McLachlan will be advised that Bob And Dolly will require a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to its next race start.

A post race veterinary examination of Alesprit (G. Baker), which compounded badly in the home straight, failed to reveal any abnormality. Stewards will confirm with trainer B. Hill that the filly will now be spelled. A post race veterinary examination of Deer Valley failed to reveal any abnormality.

Stewards have adjourned an inquiry into the running and handling of Deer Valley until 10 a.m. Tuesday 5 January 2010.