DOOM FEB 17 - A CAKEWALK FOR GEBLITZ

By Matthew Grimson and Graham Potter | Friday, February 19, 2010

Doomben, February 17, 2010.
Track - Slow 7. Rail - out 7.5m.
Maiden Plate (3yo Fillies - Set Weights) - 1200m. Time: 1-11.40. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Geblitzt; 2 Lady Leo; 3 Sixth Note.

The Steven O’dea trained Geblitz did it easy here, lining her field by a four length margin without ever being asked for a serious effort.

The chestnut landed in the leading line. Miss Deception went forward to lead briefly, but jockey Ryan Wiggins made certain Geblitz held the inside rail and the filly eased herself past Miss deception and into the lead with the minimum of fuss going into the first turn.

She held that advantage at a comfortable gallop in the approach to the home turn and, with no other runner having the fire-power to even get off a warning shot in the straight, the run to the line was more like a training gallop for Geblitz, who strolled home in untroubled fashion.

This was Geblitz’s second run. She finished fourth behind Sistagirl over 1000m at Eagle Farm on debut.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Steven O’dea: “She won very impressive today. She drew a little bit awkward the other day and got back in a 1000m race and raced a little bit green.

She showed good improvement coming into her second run. We just wanted to make use of the good gate. I was a little surprised she ended up leading, but like I say it was only her second start. She was a bit new her first start. Obviously she has taken a lot of improvement from her first run.

“I got her from some clients. They previously had her with Mick Price. She was unraced down there. He trialled her and they decided to move her on her. She is well bred. She’s only a little, small filly but she is well bred. She is a Testa Rossa out of a Group One-placed mare (Aim For Gold). She ran third in a Champagne Stakes. Clarry Conners had her.

I’ll just take this one through her classes at the moment. Like I say, she’s only a slight, little filly. She probably only wants a couple more runs this prep.”

Jockey Ryan Wiggins: “She improved a fair bit on the run the other day in her track-work so we expected her to go well. She by Testa Rossa. They swim through the going and that’s what she did today. She’s still a little bit hesitant. She doesn’t know what it is all about yet, but she’ll learn after that run and hopefully just keep improving.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Geblitzt): 3.20 out to 3.80.
Favourite (Love A Sequalo): 2.70 steady. Finished ninth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Trainer R. Heathcote advised stewards that it would be the intention Love A Sequalo ridden in a forward position. After being slow to begin, Haven Princess (J. Taylor) was further hampered shortly after the start by Vandalistic (A. Spinks), which shifted out. Sangraal (A.Merritt) was slow to begin.

Phoeb's Flyer (B. Stewart) over-raced in the early and middle stages and for some distance approaching and passing the 700m had to be restrained to avoid the heels of Blue White (T. Treichel).

Lady Leo (K. Banks) was held up in the early stages of the home straight and after passing the 300m shifted out to improve around the heels of Miss Deception (C. Munce) and in doing so made contact with Love A Sequalo (L. Cassidy).

Near the 200m Vandalistic shifted in under pressure and brushed Sangraal, which became unbalanced and shifted in making contact with Gandy May (M. Hellyer).

Near the 200m Blue White shifted out around the heels of Love A Sequalo, which was weakening, and made heavy contact with Luckily (D. Brown). T. Treichel, the rider of Blue White, will be advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground. Stewards will interview T. Triechel at a later date as
to the reason why he left the course without permission.

Phoeb's Flyer was held up when unable to obtain clear running rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight. Phoeb's Flyer was again held up over the concluding stages.

L. Cassidy, the rider of Love A Sequalo, which performed below expectations, explained that although the filly raced three wide throughout without cover, she was under pressure rounding the home turn and in his view was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination of Love A Sequalo failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation from B. Stewart regarding the performance of Phoeb's Flyer. B. Stewart explained that after being held up in the early part of the straight, when he applied pressure to the filly she raced very greenly and rather than commit to a run to the inside of Sixth Note near the 100m, he was of the view that the better option was to shift to the outside of the heels of Lady Leo to improve. B. Stewart added that Phoeb's Flyer worked to the line well. Stewards noted his explanation.