EF FEB 03 - A WALK IN THE PARK FOR SAN LEON

By Graham Potter | Friday, February 5, 2010

Eagle Farm, February 3, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - out 7.5m.
Maiden Handicap - 1500m. Time: 1-30.67. (Carrying 58kg).
1 San Leon; 2 Area Fiftyone; 3 Iron Red.

The Kelly Schweida trained San Leon scored his breakthrough win in decisive fashion when he outclassed his rivals in the home straight to go to the line a full four lengths clear of the second placed Area Fiftyone.

Jockey Jim Byrne positioned the gelding in third place early on. He pushed the lightly raced three-year-old up into second spot approaching the turn and set his sights on Fire Lizard who was setting the target at the head of affairs.

With San Leon travelling comfortably, Byrne gave his mount the green light early in the straight and the three-year-old put the issue beyond doubt in a matter of strides. He quickly opened up a winning advantage and he showed no mercy as he embarrassed his opposition in the run to the line to win as he liked.

This first career win came in San Leon’s fifth career start. He has only missed a place once and that was in the $100000 Maiden on Magic Millions day.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Kelly Schweida: “Yeah, he probably should have won a race before this, but it is good that he has done it now.

“He was probably a bit stiff in his first start in a race over 1000m. It was at Doomben. He finished second from an eleven alley. He only got beat a head. He probably should have won.

“Then last week ... he just probably ran out of gas last week. He jumped from 1200 to 1500 and they ran a really smart time. I think it was a class record and just outside the course record, so I think he was entitled to win today.

“He (Jim Byrne) was always going to track wherever Colless was (on Iron Red). He was going to be beside him. That was the plan and he got out and he got going when he was ready. Bless his heart!”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “Yeah, look it was always a situation where there wasn’t much tempo in the race. It looked like being one of those sort of races that was kind of being set up for a sprint home and sure enough it was.

“As Kelly (Schweida) said, he needed the run the other day. He showed the improvement today. Nice win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (San Leon): 1.65 out to 1.70.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Iron Red (G. Colless) jumped outwards at the start, forcing Divine Cash (C. Spry) out on to Area Fiftyone (P. Wolfgram).

Zabeels Fiesta (J. Stanley), which was hard ridden to maintain touch with the field in the early stages, compounded and finished some distance from the main body of the field.

Trainer L. Kelly reported that the filly would now be spelled. He was also advised that Zabeels Fiesta would be required to trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start. A post race veterinary examination of Zabeels Fiesta failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Iron Red was inclined to lay in in over the concluding stages.

J. Stanley, rider of Zabeels Fiesta, was severely reprimanded for using his whip unnecessarily when his mount was out of contention.