GCST JAN 09 - HAT-TRICK FOR HIDDEN WONDER

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Gold Coast, January 09, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 2m (900-400); True 400 - winning post; Out 1m - remainder.
Magic Millions Stayers Cup (Quality Handicap) - 1800m. Time: 1-49.21.
1 Hidden Wonder; 2 La Zeel; 3 Adnocon.

The five-year-old mare Hidden Wonder maintained her perfect record for trainer Kris Lees when she landed her third won in as many starts for the stable in the Magic Millions Stayers Cup.

Hidden Wonder made the most of her number one barrier draw. She hit the ground running, landing in the lead where she immediately set about putting some tempo into the race. When La Zeel came around Hidden Wonder and surged to the lead, jockey Larry Cassidy was happy to take a sit on Hidden Wonder who he positioned in second place, one out, just three-quarters-of-a-length outside the new leader.

These two runners held the positions until turning into the home straight where La Zeel, who was backing up from a win at Doomben the previous Saturday, kicked on with meaning. Halfway down the straight Cassidy had to get busy on Hidden Wonder to try to match La Zeel’s move. The heavily backed Confessional also loomed into contention closer to the inside while Adnocon, who had always been thereabouts, wasn’t going away and Jazz Heart was starting to make good ground from behind.

There were many in with a chance, but it was Cassidy and Hidden Wonder, who had been grinding away, who got to the front inside the final 100m and the mare slipped clear of the wall of runners contesting the minor places to win with something in hand.

In the end, the winning margin was a comfortable 0.80 lengths. The keenness of the chase was emphasised by the fact that the next five horses to cross the line were only separated by a further 0.80 lengths.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kris Lees: “The race looked like it was run at a pretty genuine clip and she fought off the other leader and it was a good strong win.

“Not really knowing the mare she’s surprised me every time she has gone to the races. It’s been very pleasing. I’ve only had her for the three runs (for three wins) so it has been very rewarding.

“This was her biggest test and she handled it quite well. These on-pace staying types, you know. It is a big advantage when she makes her own luck like she did. It looked like they ran along at a pretty genuine pace and she more or less broke their hearts. It was a good effort.

“I think she can still get further. I don’t know a lot about her because we’ve only had her for these three runs but, you know, in the winter she might make a handy stayer. I don’t know how far she’ll get, but 2000m ... the way she races, I think she might do it.

No, we probably won’t tip her out yet. It’s hard to tip a mare out when she is in good form ... so that probably won’t happen. We’ll see. We’ll see. Probably not. “

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “It was a very soft win really. Geez, I thought it was a soft win in the end. She is very lazy and laid back. She only does what she has to do.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACTS:
As R. Wiggins was indisposed stewards permitted App L. Rolls to be substituted as the rider of Honour Happy List.

Upon entering the back straight Jazz Heart (B. Shinn) was crowded for room between Express Air (S. Katsidis) and Centover (C. Munce), which when over-racing shifted to the inside of the heels of Under The Counter (D. Nikolic) where there was doubtful room.

Approaching the 700m Under The Counter improved up onto the heels of Uncle Jan (App M. Speers) and when being restrained shifted out taking Centover wider on the track.

J. Byrne (Seesawing) explained that from a difficult gate it was always his intention to get back in today's race. He said however, that Seesawing left the gates a little awkwardly and just after the start he had to change course abruptly to avoid the heels of Jazz Heart. After this he said Seesawing travelled well although in a rearward position but he made ground nicely into the race then however, Seesawing did not close off as he thought it might. He did conclude by saying that the trainer suggested to him on dismounting that Seesawing may now be spelled.

After the race Seesawing was examined by the veterinary surgeon who reported that the horse was galloped on sustaining a laceration on the off-fore leg and was showing some signs of soreness in its off-side front leg and before Seesawing again races a veterinary certificate of fitness must be produced.

A post race veterinary examination of Express Air failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.