EF JAN 23 - GIORGIO WINS WITH AUTHORITY

By Graham Potter | Monday, January 25, 2010

Eagle Farm, January 23, 2010
Track - good 2. Rail - out 2.5m.
NMW Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-35.29. (carrying 54.5kg).
1 Giorgio; 2 Mr Nappy; 3 Tolart.

The lightly raced Giorgio gave trainer David Kelly a double at the meeting when he produced a copy-book run to see off the persistent challenge of Mr Nappy by a comfortable two length margin. It was push-button stuff from the four-year-old who controlled the race every inch of the way.

Jockey Stathi Katsidis jumped Giorgio straight into second place where he took the sit behind Mr Nappy who went out at the head of affairs. Brigadoon Star settled in third, two lengths off Georgio.

These three runners remained the only horses in serious contention early in the home straight. When it became apparent that Brigadoon Star did not have the fire-power to get close enough to challenge the runners in front of him it became a race in two between Giorgio and Mr Nappy.

Giorgio, who had pressured Mr Nappy from the top of the straight, got to the front gaining a narrow advantage with 250m left to run, but Mr Nappy was not done yet. He kicked back to test Giorgio’s resolve, but found his rival to be rock solid in the run to the line. Ultimately it was Mr Nappy who weakened over the final 100m and Giorgio edged away to open up a two length margin at the line.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Kelly: “Beautiful. It was just a beautiful ride (by Stathi Katsidis)... what can you say? It’s been a good day.”(Giorgio was Kelly’s second winner on the card. He also had a winner at the Gold Coast and came within a whisker of taking out the Eagle Farm feature when Kryptelon finished second to Plain Magic in the Quality Handicap).

“A long-time owner of mine bred the horse in New Zealand and gave him a few starts over there. It was always his intention to bring him up to Queensland and give him a go. He has been placed over 2400m so I’d say he’d run a solid 2400. He is a good stayer because he can sort of be wherever he wants to be. He has got good gate speed.

“I don’t think the horse was quite on his game at Doomben (when finishing second to a smart type in Hallmark Star last time). He sort of ... yeah, he just wasn’t himself. He didn’t ping out of the gates like he did today. That’s why I left him three weeks (between runs) just to give him a sort of freshen up because I think he is a bit of a fresh horse. I think he likes his races spaced.”

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “Yeah, after the scratchings this morning I said to David, look ... don’t worry about the sixteen alley. It will change into a five alley after a hundred metres.

“He is solid, tough, you know. I probably went to work on him at the 400m in trying to take the lead. I thought he (Mr Nappy) had a soft enough lead and I decided to attack it.

“All credit to David. Three weeks before runs. I think first go at the mile today (this time in). It was a very good training effort.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Giorgio): 5.50 in to 3.30.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Brigadoon Star (J. Byrne) over-raced in the early and middle stages. Passing the 1200m, Kinsmate (S. Scriven) improved on to the heels of Gold Rating (M. Palmer) and had to be steadied. Oh So Rosy (B. Pengelly), which was over-racing, also had to be restrained at this stage from the heels of Kinsmate (S. Scriven).

Rounding the home turn, Gold Rating had to be checked when attempting a run between Go Johemma (D. Griffin) and Bretonneuxa (L. Cassidy) where there was insufficient room. Bretonneux (L. Cassidy), Dual Code (R. Wiggins) and Satula (L. Rolls) raced wide throughout.

Stewards sought an explanation from S. Seamer, rider of Jungle Tessla, in respect to the middle stages of the race where it appeared that his mount seemed to lose contact with Tolart, which was racing forward of him.

S. Seamer explained that near the 1100m, Kinsmate, which was over-racing on his outside, had shifted in and tightened his mount's running and as a consequence it struck the rail. He added that from this point forward, Jungle Tessla was reluctant to race to the inside of other runners and whilst it may have been ideal to be a little closer to the back of Tolart, he felt it was not in his mount's best interests to place his mount under pressure as connections felt the horse is suspect at the 1600m distance. The explanation was accepted.

A post race veterinary examination of Clang Edition revealed the horse to be lame in the off- foreleg. Connections indicated that the horse would now be retired from racing.

Kelly