GSCT JAN 09 - RETROSPECT TOO GOOD IN MM MAIDEN

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Monday, January 11, 2010

Gold Coast, January 09, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 2m (900-400); True 400 - winning post; Out 1m - remainder.
Maiden Plate (3yo and Up - Set Weights) - 1200m. Time: 1-10.96.
1 Retrospect; 2 Speeding To Win; 3 Huckleberry Dane.

The Rex Lipp trained Retrospect might not have made it to the three-year-old feature as the connections had hoped, but he was good enough to take away a major consolation prize from the Magic Millions meeting when he saluted in the $100000 Maiden Plate.

The win was fairly simple in its execution. The blinkers went on. Glen Boss was legged up. The colt had the speed to be given the run of the race, the kick to stretch clear halfway up the straight and the commitment to stay on to beat back the challenge of Huckleberry Dane and see off the challenge of the faster finishing Seeding To win.

This win came in Retrospect’s fourth start. He also has two minor placings to his credit.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Rex Lipp: “I thought he was a big chance in the race. I thought he was a good each way bet. The win hasn’t surprised me at all. Actually, our plan was if he had won a race earlier he would have been in the three-year-old race. I think the 1400m would have suited him better.

“But, seeing he got beaten well we adjusted our plans. We got to the stage where we didn’t think we would get a run ... we were twenty-three in the order ... but we were lucky enough to get into the field. But then again we’re here, we’ve won. What more do you want?

“You know, when you’ve got G Boss on you’ve got the best rider in Australia on. He is a Carnival rider and this is a Carnival. He’s always ridden horses very well for me over the years. I was happy to have him on board and he has done everything I asked him to do.

“No I wasn’t worried about the runners from Sydney. Sydney is no better than Queensland. I think the horse has got a bit of class but, you’ve got to remember, they were all Maidens in that race.

“He’ll definitely run more ground. He’ll run 1400m ... 1600m later this year. He is a miler. He’s a Queensland Guineas horse. He might have one more run or we might even ease him up now and have a look at the Winter Carnival. If I had my way, he’ll go to the paddock.”

Jockey Glen Boss: “Yeah, he had the run of the race didn’t he? First time blinkers has obviously done the trick with him. He had a nice kick about him. He never looked like getting beaten in the straight. He will improve a lot. I think the track is gorgeous ... absolutely gorgeous. I hope it stays like that all day.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
On jumping Mailbox (S. Scriven) was crowded for room by Namsarai (G. Schofield), which shifted in and Solid Effort (C. Brown), which shifted out. Huckleberry Dane (S. Katsidis) jumped away awkwardly and bumped Esbend (J. Holder). Dusty Gold (B. Shinn), which had drawn wide, was steadied when leaving the gates and shifted in behind the field to take a position closer to the rail.

Maraetai (P. Hammersley) over-raced in the early and middle stages of the event. Near the 900m San Leon (C. Munce) shifted out away from the heels of Huckleberry Dane and made contact with Speeding To Win (N. Rawiller).

Leaving the 300m Morrison (G. Colless) shifted out and made contact with San Leon on several occasions. Shortly after San Leon had to be steadied when tightened for room between Morrison and Chanfal (A. Pattillo), which shifted ground inwards. San Leon was then obliged to shift across the heels of Chanfal in order to obtain clear running.

G. Colless (Morrison) said that the horse jumped satisfactorily but then for some strides he thought his mount had attempted to buck. T. Bailey the trainer of Morrison was told that should the horse perform similarly again action may be taken against it.

J. Byrne (Fast Lover) said that at no stage did the horse get on the bit as he had hoped and he had to ride along in an endeavour to maintain a position about midfield and then Fast Lover just found the line ordinarily. He said that he thought Fast Lover might be looking for more ground. After the race Fast Lover was examined by the veterinary surgeon who reported the gelding had sustained a laceration on its off-side knee.

Post race veterinary examinations of Namsarai and Solid Effort failed to reveal any abnormalities. Huckleberry Dane lost its near-hind plate in running.