DOOM FEB 20 - OUR MR CASHMAN COMES UP TRUMPS

By Graham Potter | Thursday, February 25, 2010

Doomben, February 20, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - out 1.5m.
QTIS 3yo Handicap - 1200m. Time: 1-10.28. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Our Mr Cashman; 2 Show A Lion Heart; 3 Unica Bahaya.

The Andrew Williamson trained Our Mr Cashman came up trumps at Doomben on Saturday to score a well-deserved win, the fourth of his career.

The gelding has been ultra-consistent in recent times. In his last three outings he never finished more than 2.50 lengths off the winner in a series of game and honest performances. In two of those runs, Our Mr Cashman jumped from very wide alleys (numbers fourteen and sixteen) which underlined the merit of the results he obtained in difficult circumstances.

Once again here, the barrier loomed as a potential problem. Not that Our Mr Cashman was drawn wide this time, but an inside draw (Our Mr Cashman was drawn at number three) can be just as big a disadvantage in a big field. With seventeen runners and a hectic, jam-packed charge for the early lead in play, a large part of Our Mr Cashman’s result depended on what happened in the first 150m.

Jockey Damian Browne had ridden Our Mr Cashman in his previous two starts and he was again in charge of the gelding here. An outstanding rider, without doubt one of the best going around, Browne guided Our Mr Cashman through the potential minefield of a busy start with consummate skill so that when the dust settled on some kind of racing order Our Mr Cashman was in third on the rail enjoying the run of the race some two lengths behind Flinders City and Listen Son.

Coming to the turn Browne pushed Our Mr Cashman right up onto the heels of the leaders, then shifted out on straightening and set about the serious side of the business.

Flinders City weakened with 250m left to run leaving Listen Son as the target of Our Mr Cashman’s chase. The latter was in full cry now and he went past Listen Son inside the final 150m.

There could be no let-up though as Show A Lionheart and Unica Bahaya closed up strongly on the line but, in the end, their effort was only worth second place and third place respectively, as Our Mr Cashman stayed on to win by a short-neck after a perfectly executed run.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Jockey Damian Browne: “He was coming back from seven furlongs. They went hard early which really suited him.

“He was able to capitalise on a good run throughout the race. He is a pretty tough horse who was due to get his turn to win. Thankfully he got it today.”

PRICE FLUCTUATION:
Winner (Our Mr Cashman): 5.00 in to 4.40.
Favourite (Unica Bahaya): 3.90 in to 3.00 out to 3.20. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Belletrist was declared a late scratching at 4.03 pm when the horse was injured in the mounting enclosure.

A warning was issued to the connections of Beach Model, which proved difficult to load.

Apprentice T. Bell, rider of Unica Bahaya, reported that his whip had become entangled in the front of the barrier gates and was displaced from his grasp on jumping away.

Redbolt (J. Taylor) jumped away awkwardly. Maroon Bells (J. Holder) was slow to begin.

M. Hellyer, rider of Street Stall, was severely reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift in and make heavy contact with the hind quarters of Redbolt (J. Taylor) a short distance after the start.

Near the 800m, Beach Model (B. El-Issa) improved up on to the heels of Falvelina (L. Cassidy) and when being restrained shifted out, taking Well Satisfied (C. Munce) out on to Purr Of Glory (J. Byrne). Go Cam (C. Reith), which was following, was inconvenienced as a consequence.

K. Banks, rider of Listen Son, was reprimanded for striking her mount in a forehand manner on seven occasions prior to the 100m.

Stewards sought an explanation from L. Cassidy in respect to the disappointing performance of Falvelina.

L. Cassidy stated that the horse travelled quite well in the early stages, taking up a position behind Racing Pegasus. L. Cassidy added that a Racing Pegasus commenced to compound forward of him near the 600m and he was obliged to move to a three-wide position from that point, but despite this was disappointed in the way Falvelina finished the race off.

L. Cassidy further stated that, in his opinion, the filly performs best on firmer tracks. A post-race veterinary examination of Falvelina revealed the horse had sustained a laceraton to the near-fore
fetlock.

Apprentice L. Rolls, rider of Racing Pegasus, which compounded to finish a distant last, explained to stewards that shortly after leaving the gates he was somewhat concerned with the action of the horse, adding that it was under severe pressure passing the 800m and compounded from the 600m,
compelling him to retire the horse from the event.

Trainer B. Baldwin was unable to offer any explanation for the poor run, stating that the horse
trialled well in preparation for today's race, however felt that it may not have been entirely suited by the short back up since trialling.

Mr Baldwin added that he intended to have veterinary examinations carried on the horse when it returned to the stables and would monitor the condition of Racing Pegasus and undertook to advise stewards of any abnormality that may come to light in the following days that may have had a bearing on the performance.

A post-race veterinary examination of Racing Pegasus failed to reveal any significant abnormalities. Stewards in consideration of the past two performances of Racing Pegasus intend to revisit the matter once the results of all veterinary tests have been received.

Aquila Brave lost its off-fore plate in running.