GCST JAN 09 - PLAIN MAGIC TROUNCES HER OPPOSITION

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Gold Coast, January 09, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 2m (900-400); True 400 - winning post; Out 1m - remainder.
Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap (Quality) - 1300m. Time: 1-17.15.
1 Plain Magic; 2 Kryptelon; 3 Calm Before.

The Kelly Schweida trained Plain Magic made it back-to-back wins when she trounced her opposition by a decisive three length margin when taking out the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap.

Jockey Jim Byrne punched Plain Magic out of the barriers from her unfavourable ten draw and the mare had the gate speed to race across to lead briefly. Casholet, who jumped from an even wider alley brushed past her though to take up the running and Byrne was happy to take the trail in a close-up, strong running, second place.

Casholet tried to kick away on straightening but Plain Magic matched that move before changing gears to power her way to the lead coming through the 200m mark. From that moment it was ‘race over’ as Plain Magic gapped her rivals to win in a most impressive fashion.

Kryptelon led the chase for the minor placings, but she was only winning a race within a race and she was forced to play second best to Plain Magic’s dominance.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “It was a good win last start (when beating gag Order over 1200m at Doomben). She’s really put it together.

“We were a little bit worried whether we could get up on the speed and where the best going was. From the ten alley he (jockey Jim Byrne) was always going to be a bit aggressive and just see what they wanted to do early.

“We were going to lead if nothing wanted to lead, but there was a bit of speed so he let her go. Yeah, look she has always shown us something. From day one she showed us ability. I said to the owner, she goes good but she is very plain. That’s how she got her name ... Plain Magic.

“The last two wins have been good. She was explosive last time at Doomben. She’s been racing in good quality races in the past and she’s just kept on going. She’s won two out of three this prep. She finished eighth first-up this time in.

“It was my fault she didn’t do better there. It was a good race. They ran 1-08.67.” (Baqaba won the race beating Plain Magic by 3.40 lengths). “She was a little bit under-done. She was a late scratching at the barriers the week before. She missed a few days work and she probably got away from me a little bit. What was that quote of the week, ‘I stuffed up.’

Jockey Jim Byrne: “She is a quality horse. Kelly (Schweida) has always had an opinion of her. She is the sort of horse, if she gets it soft enough, she can run very good sectionals."

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As B. Pengelly the declared rider for County Tale arrived on course late permission was given for S. Scriven to be substituted. The explanation given by B. Pengelly regarding his late arrival was accepted.

After arriving at the start G. Colless (Tikit To Glory) expressed concern with the action of the horse and sought a veterinary examination. The veterinary surgeon said that in his opinion Tikit To Glory was suitable to race however, G. Colless remained concerned and said that he was unwilling to ride Tikit To Glory.

To avoid an unreasonable delay stewards ordered the late withdrawal of Tikit To Glory at 1 p.m. At a subsequent inquiry the Club's veterinary surgeon said he noted some shortness in the off-side front leg of Tikit To Glory and G. Colless said that despite giving the horse a good warm up he remained concerned about the horse's action on its off-side. Trainer G. Heinrich was told that before the horse can race again a veterinary certificate of fitness will have to be produced.

Rock Honey (L. Nolen) knuckled on jumping. Telestah La Vistah (J. Taylor) shifted out abruptly at the start and made contact with With Apologies (D. Nikolic).

From a difficult gate Calm Before (S. Katsidis) was steadied on leaving the gates and then shifted across behind the field to take up a position toward the rear but near the rail.

Leaving the 1100m Kryptelon (G. Boss) shifted in and dictated the line of County Tale (S. Scriven) resulting in that horse having to be momentarily steadied. In the circumstances G. Boss (Kryptelon) was advised to exercise more care in a similar situation.

Leaving the 1000m County Tale shifted to the outside of Kryptelon when attempting to restrain it to a position closer to the fence. Rock Honey and Lustre Lady (C. Brown) were both obliged to steady from that horse's heels. With Apologies which was trailing also had to be steadied as a consequence.

When questioned D. Nikolic (With Apologies) said that the trainer had instructed him to ride the horse quietly as it was first up and might be suspect over today's trip. Accordingly, he got well back but then on the home turn was unable to get into the clear as he was awkwardly placed inside Rock Honey. He said that he had been specifically told to give the horse room in the straight but was unable to do so. He also said that With Apologies was in a very bad mood before today's race and was restless in the boxes.

Trainer T. Noonan confirmed the instructions and also stated that he was worried about With Aplogies over the distance of today's race. He said that he noted before the event With Apologies was suffering from a seasonal complaint and could understand her being in a bad mood. He was accepting of the reasons submitted by D. Nikolic for not getting to the outside. The explanations tendered by D. Nikolic and T. Noonan were today accepted.

When questioned regarding his riding in the early part of the straight M. Cahill (Ourkohinoor) said that he decided on straightening the going was better away from the running rail and accordingly, he shifted out but when he did so he was held up until after the 100m and when Ourkohinoor obtained running it closed the race off strongly. He acknowledged that in hindsight it would have been preferable for him to have stayed on the inside as no sooner had he shifted than clear running became available. Stewards did not believe on this occasion that M. Cahill was in breach of any Rules of Racing but he was advised that his tactics at a vital stage had caused a lot of concern.

Telestah La Vistah cast an off-hind plate in running.