LA GOULUE FIRST-UP RECORD GETS BETTER AND BETTER

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, May 26, 2009

La Goulue went into the fourth race at Caulfield fresh after a five month spell. Her previous first-up record (two wins from three starts) was the best indicator of how she might perform. She lived up to the expectation expressed in that statistic.

Kept wide, but right always right up with the speed, La Goulue extended in the straight to quickly move to the head of affairs. Goldfield Ashes did emerge from the pack to give chase, but La Goulue always had that move covered and the four-year-old remained in control right to the finish.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Peter Moody stable spokesman: “She’s very good fresh. We thought the 1200m would test her today. Jason (Benbow) didn’t panic. He just sat quiet on her and she got the trip. Whether she can go on is the big question. We tried her in Black Type and it hasn’t worked. If we try her again in Black Type it might have to be first-up. She’s proven that today.”

Jockey Jason Benbow: “She was little bit slow out. She was going to possie up one, one ... but the horse on the inside dug up. I was happy to just keep her balanced. With the class edge and the weight advantage she had today, I was always confident. The 1200m was a concern, but she just ran it out, so it was a good training effort by Pete (Moody).”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (La Goulue): 3.50 out to 4.20 in to 3.90.
The winner was the favourite.