EF JAN 16 - HONOUR HAPPY LIST SCORES IN STYLE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, January 17, 2010

Eagle Farm, January 16, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Open Handicap - 2100m. Time: 2-10.16.
1 Honour Happy List; 2 Showciti; 3 Express Air.

The Steven O’dea trained Honour Happy List was the medium of a fair punting plunge and she duly obliged by scoring a no-nonsense win by a clear-cut 1.80 length margin.

The mare was backing up after finishing unplaced, but only 1.60 lengths behind Hidden Wonder in the Magic Millions Stayers Cup at the Gold Coast last week. The Stayers Cup was the fourth successive feature race contested by Happy Honour List who previously had not been shy to match motors with the likes of Conquering Queen (in the Leo Williams), Alverta (in the Just Now) and Joku (in the Bernborough). She thus had every right to have a major say in an ordinary Open Handicap.

Apprentice jockey Luke Rolls positioned the mare perfectly in the early part. Settled fourth on the rail at a comfortable gallop, Happy Honour List continued to save ground in the sweep to the turn which saw her improve his position up to second on straightening, hard on the heels of the front-running Kentish Rose.

Once shifted one away from the fence, Honour Happy List responded to a flick of the wrists by Rolls to quickly go past the tiring Kentish Rose and the seven-year-old maintained a sustained finishing effort all the way to the line to leave the chasers in her wake.

Showciti led that race within a race to claim second spot. It was the gelding’s fourth successive minor placing.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Apprentice jockey Luke Rolls: “It was a really good run last Saturday (at the Gold Coast). She probably just needed the run and probably just a bit more distance and today she got it and she really finished it off.

“She does that in her racing. It takes a few runs under her belt before she comes right.

“She began well. I didn’t have to do any work to get to where I was, you know. She just positioned herself nicely and got a nice run throughout and just travelled beautifully.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Honour Happy List): 6.50 in to 4.60 out to 4.80.
Favourite (Humma): 2.90 out to 3.20 in to 3.10. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer N. Schofield was fined $100 for failing to declare a rider for Royal Colours by the prescribed time.

Stewards interviewed trainer R. Heathcote and L. Cassidy regarding the riding tactics to be adopted on stable runners Humma and Kentish Rose. Mr Heathcote advised that he had instructed S. Katsidis, rider of Kentish Rose, to seek a forward position on the mare today, and whilst not tying L. Cassidy, rider of Humma, to any specific instructions, he did indicate that he would prefer if the horse settled midfield. He added that should the pace slow he had no objection to him taking off mid-race. L. Cassidy indicated that if he were to be trapped wide he would, in all probability, have to go back towards the rear.

Royal Hope (J. Bowditch) jumped away awkwardly and missed the start. Honour Happy List (L. Rolls) and Showciti (A. Pattillo) made contact at the start. Showciti then became unbalanced and shifted out. A. Pattillo reported that Showciti was galloped on by Yield Curve (N. Evans) in the early stages, which resulted in his mount becoming unbalanced and settling further back than he would have liked. Gaze On lost its off-hind plate in running.

J. Bowditch reported that when the pace slowed approaching the mile, Royal Hope commenced to race extremely fiercely and he was obliged to shift to a three-wide position to the outside of the heels of Gaze On (J. Holder), and after being unable to settle his mount he elected to proceed forward to race near the lead.

L. Cassidy, rider of Humma, reported that approaching the home turn he was held up on the heels of the tiring Royal Colours (J. Wood) and unable to improve as a result of Royal Hope, which was also under pressure, racing tight to his outside.

L. Cassidy further explained that rounding the home turn he attempted to shift Humma to the outside of Royal Hope, however Express Air (J. Byrne) had by that stage progressed to his outside, resulting in him being held up until approaching the 300m. L. Cassidy also added that the horse finished the race off fairly and was of the opinion that had Humma not been held up that it would have finished in the placings.

Stewards questioned J. Wood, rider of Royal Colours, in relation to his mount shifting ground rounding the home turn which afforded a run to the eventual winner, Honour Happy List. J. Wood explained that the horse was under pressure approaching the home turn and that he was compelled to use the whip in order to get the best out of his mount. J. Wood added that when in the action of applying the whip his mount shifted ground outwards. J. Wood's explanation was accepted.

Apprentice M. Speers, rider of Uncle Jan, was found guilty of a charge under AR137(5)(a)(ii) in that he used his whip in a forehand manner on more than five occasions prior to the 100m mark. M. Speers was fined $200.

Jockey A. Spinks, rider of Moon Chaser, pleaded guilty of a charge under AR137(5)(a)(ii) in that he used his whip in a forehand manner on more than five occasions prior to the 100m mark. A. Spinks was fined $100.