DOOM FEB 17 - TELESTAH LA VISTA HOLDS OFF YARMARJIE

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

Doomben, February 17, 2010.
Track - Slow 7. Rail - out 7.5m.
Class 4 Handicap - 1030m. Time: 1-40.97. (Carrying 53.5kg).
1Telestah La Vistah; 2 Yamarjie; 3 Bretonneux.

The Robert Reilly trained Telestah La Vistah claimed her fifth career success here.

The mare settled in a clear second place, 2.50 lengths behind the leader Majestic Ruler in the early part. When the pace slowed mid-race, the field bunched up in the sweep to the turn, but jockey Kevin Forrester made certain Telestah La Vistah held her position and the six-year-old was still in second spot, two wide, on straightening. At that stage Yarmarjie, who was also travelling well, raced on the outside of Telestah La Vistah.

As Majestic Ruler weakened, Telestah La Vista took control of the race early in the straight and she was good enough to hold off the persistent challenge of Yamarjie, in what developed into a two-way battle over the final 200m, to win by a long-head.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Robert Reilly: “We were expecting a good run, yes. The conditions suits her, as they did. She is very strong and very well handled by Kevin (Forrester). Very good ride. She doesn’t mind the wet at all which is good.

“She was a little bit unlucky in her last run (when finishing second at the Sunshine Coast behind Hangover Henry). It was a very strong run. She was hampered in the straight but she fought on well. It was quite a pleasing run given that she had to travel.

"Her run before that at the Gold Coast, it was just a bit short for her. First couple runs back from a very long spell off. It is going well. I think she’ll get 1800m. I might try her over 2000m.”

Kevin Forrester: “She is an on-pace runner. She handle’s slow ground. Well trained and well ridden. That’s how you win races isn’t it?”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Telesta La Vista): 8.00 out to 12.00 in to 8.00.
Favourite (Bretonneux): 2.50 in to 2.20. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Just A Classic, which was kicked behind the barriers by another runner, was examined by the veterinary surgeon and declared a late scratching at 4.06 p.m. by order of the stewards acting on veterinary advice.

After passing the 700m Bretonneux (C. Munce) shifted out to improve its position around the heels of Will Impress (M. Hellyer), and in doing so made contact on a number of occasions with Masked Avenger (Matthew Palmer).

Bretonneux continued to shift out to a three wide position trailing Yamarjie (J. Byrne). During this incident Masked Avenger shifted in in an attempt to resist the shift from rider C. Munce. Stewards advised C. Munce to exercise greater care when shifting out to improve in future, and advised M. Palmer that once he had been moved wider on the track to desist from applying undue pressure to runners on his inside.

C. Munce, the rider of Bretonneux, explained that the gelding travelled well, although upon straightening did blunder for one stride in the going, and following this failed to respond to his riding and in his view was disappointing.

M. Palmer, the rider of Masked Avenger, which performed below expectations, explained that following the gelding receiving pressure near the 600m it did not travel well from that point and was disappointing in the home straight.