DOOM FEB 06 - CAPTAIN SONADOR WINS WITH AUTHORITY

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Doomben, February 6, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 5.5.
QTIS 3yo Handicap - 1110m. Time: 1-04.19.(Carrying 58kg).
1 Captain Sonador; 2 Falvelina; 3 Huckleberry Dane.

The Roger Milne trained Captain Sonador took no prisoners in the final event on the card as he romped away from his opposition over the last 100m to score by a widening 3.80 length margin.

Captain Sonador raced wide in the second half of the field until jockey Scott Seamer asked his mount to improve his position in the sweep to the turn. Still trapped out wide, the colt did just that.

He was up to fifth, five wide on straightening, and he was just warming up.

The early leader Bevagna, Huckleberry Dane and the main fancy Falvelina were scrambling for the leading position early in the straight, but Captain Sonador relegated the status of that battle to being merely a chase for the minor placings as swept past his rivals with contemptuous ease to stamp his authority on proceedings in no uncertain terms.

This was Captain Sonador’s third win from seventeen starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Roger Milne: “He was a fresh horse. He had a good run. He was wide, but he travelled a treat. Good horse!”

Jockey Scott Seamer: “He has got a big finish, he is a nice horse in the making. Obviously Roger (Milne) hasn’t had everything go his own way. Leading up to the Magic Millions he had to push him a bit to get him into the race, but he’s given him a little freshen up andhe has shown his true colours today.

“It fell into place for him today. He is a horse that likes a nice genuine speed. He was able to track into the race. Yeah, he did it from a wide barrier. He has had good barriers before, but I haven’t been able to get out on him ... and he’s drawn bad barriers and been wide.

“Yeah, but once he learns to put it together, you know. Roger’s learning about him. I know him better now and everything is working well. He should be up there during the Winter carnival.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Captain Sonador): 8.00 out to 9.00 in to 8.50.
Favourite (Falvelina): 5.00 in to 4.40. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Purr Of Glory (J. Byrne), Tedika (A. Spinks) and Maroon Bells (J. Holder) were slow to begin. Falvelina (L. Cassidy) jumped away awkwardly and missed the start. Racing Pegasus also began awkwardly.

When the pace slackened leaving the 700m, Huckleberry Dane (C. McIver) improved to the inside of Bevagna (M. Hughes) where there was insufficient room and had to be steadied. Show A Lion Heart (G. Colless), Purr Of Glory (J. Byrne) and Tedika, which were trailing, all had to be restrained to varying degrees as a result. At the same stage, Dancingwithangles (M. Hellyer) improved up on to the heels of Racing Pegasus (S. Katsidis) and shifted out, which enabled Racing Heart (D. Brown), which was over-racing, to improve to that horse's inside. A short distance later, Falvelina then shifted in, taking Dancingwithangles in on to Racing Heart, which had to be steadied.

Falvelina raced three wide without cover throughout. Huckleberry Dane lost its off-fore plate in running.

Stewards sought an explanation from J. Byrne regarding the seemingly disappointing performance of Purr Of Glory.

J. Byrne stated that the horse travelled well in the early stages when there was considerable speed in the race, however when the pace slackened near the 700m and he was forced to take hold of Purr Of Glory, the filly seemed to lose her momentum and considering she is a lightly framed filly carrying 57 kilograms, he felt this incident had a significant effect on the overall performance of Purr Of Glory. A post-race veterinary examination of Purr Of Glory failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation in regards to the performance of Racing Pegasus.

S. Katsidis stated that the horse was able to gain a position outside the leader quite easily in the early stages, however after assuming that position, Racing Pegasus, in his opinion, lost concentration, and despite his urging failed to respond to his riding thereafter.

S. Katsidis added that as he felt something was amiss with the horse he did not place the filly under significant pressure in the home straight. He added that when Racing Pegasus jumped away awkwardly it may have injured itselt.

Stewards interviewed trainer B. Baldwin, who could not offer any explanation for the performance, and stewards advised Mr Baldwin they would set the matter aside and consider whether any embargo be placed on Racing Pegasus pending further veterinary examinations in the days subsequent to the race. A post-race veterinary examination of Racing Pegasus failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

Milne