RHILL JAN 16 - WELL BRED ELIMBARI VICTORIOUS ON DEBUT

By Scott Gooley | Sunday, January 17, 2010

Rosehill, January 16, 2010.
Track - Dead. Rail - Out 3m.
2yo Handicap - 1100m. Time: 1-05.05 (Carrying 57kg).
1 Elimbari; 2 Celts; 3 Valour.

The well bred 2yo filly Elimbari recorded a narrow victory at her first race start at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trained by Kris Lees, the daughter of Fastnet Rock is a three quarter sister to the ill-fated Amelia’s Dream who won last year’s Silver Shadow Stakes in race record time before injury forced her in to premature retirement.

With two trial wins at Wyong and Newcastle in the last month under her belt, Elimbari was sent out a $2.80 favourite and settled in fifth place, one off the fence in the early stages of the race.

Coming to the first turn at the 700m mark however, Elimbari and her jockey Hugh Bowman, were forced three wide as the leaders slowed the pace.

“I just had to forget tactics and keep my horse balanced and happy. She’s got class.” Bowman would later state when referring to the incident and the filly.

On the home turn, second favourite Celts ($4.00) and Elimbari begin to make their runs three and four wide respectively.

In the early part of the straight, it was Celts who held a slender lead over Elimbari as the pair raced clear of the field.

Under vigorous hands and heels riding, Elimbari levelled up with Celts at the 100m.

Bowman, after waiting as long as possible, drew the whip in an attempt to extract a final effort out of Elimbari who responded accordingly.

In a fantastic finish, Elimbari was able to edge past Celts and record a long head victory with four and half lengths to third placed, Valour ($6.00).

“We come down (to Sydney) with high expectations of her after her track work and provincial barrier trails but, until you see them do it (perform) under race conditions - it was a good effort.”

STARTING PRICES:
1 Elimbari 2.80; 2 Celts 4.00; 3 Valour 6.00; 4 Hot Rocks 61.00.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
She’s Cosmic, Guessed and Curious Dame were slow to begin. Boom Boom jumped awkwardly. Approaching the 600m Valour, which was inclined to race greenly, shifted out, resulting in Boom Boom pulling its way up to the inside of the heels of that runner and ultimately having to be checked by its rider, C Brown.

Rounding the home turn Hot Rocks got its head up when being steadied off the heels of Calendar Lass. Over the latter stages the fifth placegetter, Someday Somehow, hung in badly and, with Calendar Lass positioned back to the inside of his heels, B Shinn was unable to ride his mount out over the final stages.