SCST JAN 31 - HANGOVER HENRY HAS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Sunshine Coast, January 31, 2010.
Track - Slow 7. Rail - True.
Class 4 Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-40.31. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Hangover Henry; 2 Telestah La Vistah; 3 Patmoss.

While trainer Trevor Miller dominated the Sunshine Coast meeting on Sunday with three winners (see separate story - Miller fires back with a treble), the feature race of the day was taken out by the well named Hangover Henry (Half Hennessy - See The Stars).

The four-year-old had finished as a beaten favourite twice in three starts since transferring to the stable of trainer David Murphy, but he made no mistake this time in spite of some anxious moments halfway up the straight where the gear change of ‘winkers off, blinkers (one-eyed) on first time’ appeared to be making little difference to the gelding’s wayward tendencies.

Jockey Christian Reith sent the gelding about his business early in the straight. Hangover Henry did not help his own cause by continually wanting to stagger off a straight course, but Reith was strong enough to take charge of his mount and, although he was initially hard-ridden to establish a break on his rivals, he did just that before cruising home in comfortable fashion to win every bit as easily as the 2.30 length margin suggests.

A bit wayward he might be but Hangover Henry was also doing his part for the future of racing. There were several youngsters in the very large group of owners who came down to the number one box to greet their winner and most of them were clearly enthralled with the moment.

A couple of minutes later and there were no prouder members of the group of connections than those children when they posed for a photograph. Good on them ... and credit to the Sunshine Coast for providing such a family friendly environment every week which helps foster the core character on which racing was built.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Murphy: “Mate, he just won’t go straight. He’s green. He’s had twenty odd starts (only four of which have been for Murphy) and he is still green ... but that win will do him all the world of good. He won by two and something lengths in spite of doing things wrong.

“He loves wet tracks mate. He is a wet-tracker. His old man was a wet tracker. The further he goes the better.

“I was pretty confident he would win today. His fourth start (this prep) in to a mile. He just felt the pinch last start ... got a bit of weight off his back here. He’s not real good at carrying weight. So he had a bit in his favour this time and he came through.”

Jockey Christian Reith: “The horse has got untapped potential. He’s had to straighten up a lot. He has cost himself a lot of ground hanging in like that.

“I think if David (Murphy) can iron the creases out with him, you know, he’s going to go to some bigger races.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Dispurser (B. Swanton) and Oh So Rosy (M. Hellyer) were slow to begin.

Approaching the 1200m, Oh So Rosy (M. Hellyer) improved onto the heels of Blistering Miss (J. Taylor) and had to be steadied. Near the 1000m, Manston (M. Dorrington) improved on to the heels of Burnett Dancer (K. Wharton) and had to be steadied and as a result shifted out, making heavy contact with Blistering Miss (J. Taylor), forcing that runner to race wide from that point onwards.

Near the 500m, when endeavouring to improve between Manston and Hangover Henry (C. Reith), Oh So Rosy was disappointed for that run when Hangover Henry shifted in slightly.

Shortly after straightening Hangover Henry shifted in hampering both Blistering Miss and Burnett Dancer. Near the 300m, Telestah Vistah was hampered when Hangover Henry shifted in under pressure.

Stewards questioned apprentice M. Hellyer and trainer J. Collins regarding the tactics adopted on Oh So Rosy, particularly during the early stages as to why apprentice Hellyer failed to take up a position on the fence behind Manston (M. Dorrington), and between the 800m and 400m where it appeared an opportunity was available for apprentice Hellyer to improve behind Blistering Miss (J. Taylor) when leaving the 700m.

Apprentice Hellyer explained that he had been instructed to improve into the race before the home turn and he therefore did not wish to be on the fence inside other runners. He further stated that the pattern of racing throughout the day was also a factor in his reasoning for not wishing to be placed on the fence.

Apprentice Hellyer added that an opportunity to improve behind Blistering Miss was only open to him for a brief time when leaving the 700m and when he elected to take up that position, Hangover Henry (C. Reith) had improved quickly to his outside and as a result he was unable to go forward at that point. He further stated that after being hampered near the 500m, the mare did make ground quickly when pressured.

Stewards accepted apprentice Hellyer's explanation for his tactics in the early stages, however advised him that they were of the opinion that he had erred in failing to avail himself of the run behind Blistering Miss earlier than he had attempted to. After taking into account all the circumstances, stewards felt that apprentice Hellyer's ride did not fall below the standard which would warrant action being taken.

K. Pope, rider of Telestah La Vistah, was fined $200 for returning to scale overweight.