EF FEB 10 - GOLDCAT GETS THE JOB DONE

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Eagle Farm, February 10, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - out 10m.
Maiden Plate (2yo - Set Weights) - 1300m. Time: 1-20.36. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Goldcat; 2 Nastro Blu; 3 Top Brass.

The Danny Bougoure trained Goldcat landed in the leading line before settling in second spot as Nastro Blu went out to set the early target. The favourite Top Brass took the trail behind the two leaders to race in third.

These three runners held station until the approach to the turn and on straightening they were the only three horses in serious contention. Jockey Christian Reith was quick to try and push Goldcat up alongside the leader at the top of the straight, but Nastro Blu initially resisted that challenge.

Top Brass had tracked up behind Goldcat to threaten, but as the two leaders joined issue with meaning, Top Brass was suddenly under pressure and he was a beaten horse halfway up the straight.

So it came down to a two-way fight between Nastro Blue, who kept fighting under a determined ride from jockey Chris Munce, and Goldcat, who was doing himself no favours by racing extremely green in the run home.

In what came down to a grinding battle, it took almost the whole length of the straight to decide the issue. In the end it was Goldcat who had enough in hand to edge away from Nastro Blue in the concluding stages to earn his first win in his third career start.

Goldcat has improved in each start as he has stepped up in distance from 900m to 1200m and now to this success over 1300m. He will go further.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Danny Bougoure: “Yeah mate, it’s mainly race experience with this horse. The distance suited at this stage. He looks like he wants to be a three-year-old rather than a two-year-old.

“He still wanted to lay in today ... still very green. He hasn’t found out what it is all about yet. A mile will probably be his best distance. He’ll run a mile every day of the week.

“The other day he got squeezed out ... was back last. Drawn one from the outside probably helped him today. He jumped a bit cleaner and got into the race.”

Jockey Christian Reith: “He is very green. The other day at Doomben he was a touch slow away and got squeezed out of it.

“Today I expected him to improve and, you know, the horse improves that little bit each time he goes around. He was a little bit lost by himself. Once he gets to know what he’s doing he’ll be alright.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Goldcat): 3.60 in to 3.10.
Favourite (Top Brass): 1.80 out to 2.10 in to 2.00. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Craiglea Matilda (K. Wharton) jumped very awkwardly and lost ground. Bittermagic (J. Holder) was slow to begin. Blissful Honour (L. Rolls) blundered at the start and shortly after shifted out and brushed Ferelli (M. Palmer).

When the pace steadied near the 900m Blissful Honour had to be steadied off the heels of Top Brass (G. Colless). Miss Lucky Choice (L. Cassidy), which was following, also had to be steadied and shifted out taking Bittermagic wider on the track. Craiglea Matilda was inconvenienced near the 800m when tightened for room by Miss Lucky Choice which shifted in slightly.

Nastro Blu (C. Munce) shifted out under pressure over the final 300m. Goldcat (C. Reith) raced greenly in the home straight.

G. Colless, the rider of Top Brass, was fined $200 under AR. 137A(5)(a)(ii) for using the whip in a forehand manner on seven occasions prior to the 100m.

M. Palmer, the rider of Ferelli, was reprimanded under AR. 137A(4)(c) for using the whip on that gelding in the home straight when it was clearly out of contention.