FLEM JAN 30 - TAKE THE WRAP SALUTES IN HAYES STAKES

By Scott Gooley | Monday, February 1, 2010

Flemington, January 30, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail -True.
CS Hayes Stakes (Group 3 - 3yo Colts and Geldings - Set Weights) - 1400m.
Time - 1-23:25 (carrying 54kg).
1 Take The Wrap; 2 Encosta Belief; 3 Extra Zero

A text book ride by leading hoop Craig Williams aboard Take The Wrap helped the three year old colt claim his first stakes victory when he saluted in the Group 3 Colin Hayes Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Drawing gate four in the field of eight runners, Take The Wrap jumped with the leaders before Williams took hold and settled the son of No Excuse Needed in fourth position.

Approaching the 600m pole, Williams had the Danny O’Brien trained colt perfectly poised in fifth spot, one of the fence and three lengths off the lead.

Turning for home, Take The Wrap peeled off from behind the leading group and under the vigorous hands and heels riding of Williams, joined leader Encosta Belief at the 200m mark.

As they did the previous week, the two three years settled down to fight out the finish.

Conscious that at that meeting, Take The Wrap had laid in and was relegated from second to third under protest, Williams refused to use the whip until well inside the last 100m.

Using the whip in his left hand, Williams extracted an extra effort out of Take The Wrap ($8.50) finishing a neck in front of Encosta Belief ($4.20).

Race favourite Extra Zero ($3.80), who was having his first start since running second in the in the VRC Derby last October, was a further length away in third spot.

“He was very good today.” stated O’Brien Stable representative, Gerard Tesoriero.

“He’s probably been knocking on the door for a while. He had his first two this prep where he was just facing the breeze the whole way.”

“He needs a bit of cover in his run. Today he got that and Craig (Williams) gave him the perfect, well-timed run.”

“I’m not sure where we go with him next but I’m sure there’s a Stakes race in the next two or three weeks that will suit him.

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Take The Wrap): 8.00 out to 8.50.
Favourite (Extra Zero): 2.80 out to 3.80. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Devils Force and Rebel Truce were slow away.
Near the 1200m, Rebel Truce got its head up when being restrained.