SCST FEB 28 - TWO-IN-A-ROW FOR DANEODIN

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Sunshine Coast, February 28, 2010.
Track - Cushion.
Class 3 Handicap - 1100m. Time: 1-07.04. (Carrying 52.5kg).
1 Daneodin; 2 Hawk Hunter; 3 Swell.

The Robert Wilson trained Daneodin made it back to back victories when he ran out a comfortable end to end winner, scoring by a clear-cut 3.50 length margin.

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer took the gelding to an immediate lead and dictated the speed to suit his mount in the early part. Approaching the home turn Swell and Hawk Hunter moved up to challenge Daneodin, but their threat was more illusion than substance and they were left scrambling for traction when Hellyer gave Daneodin his head in the straight.

The three-year-old kicked away with the minimum of fuss and he had his race won long before he crossed the line.

Daneodin has now won three of his nine starts. He also has three minor placings to his credit.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Wilson: “He’s getting better every time we run him.

“The horse had a lot of problems … nervous problems … very green, very immature. Michael (Hellyer) has worked him out now. He’s done the horse a lot of favours, you know.

“The horse has never lacked ability. He lacked a lot of initiative. Very nervy type. He had a few problems when he was pulling up early in the piece. He lacked confidence.

“He is a horse you have got to work terribly hard, but he is making progress. Ah look, we’ll test him now. He’ll go to town next Saturday to the QTIS three-year-old race. You have to take them there when they’ve got a bit of form. They are only three-year-olds for one season.”

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “I was absolutely shocked. I was going to lead, but I didn’t think I was going to get it easy. I could have sworn I would have had a couple at least take me on being a small field, but I got out and within 50 to 75m I was two lengths in front and in control.

“Nothing took me on … I just had it so easy. I was walking to the first turn. When they put pressure on me about the 600, 700 … I just let him slide a little bit.

“When I came around the home turn I let him slip and when I went for him he just moved away from them. Probably his best work was the last furlong.

“Not so long ago he was taking a while to win another race, but he is learning how to be a racehorse now and he knows what it is all about … and I’ll keep my word about what I said last time. He is going to be a better horse next prep.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Daneodin): 2.80 out to 3.00. Equal favourite.
Equal favourite (Swell): 2.50 out to 3.00. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Red Rocker was declared a late scratching at 10.20am for reasons acceptable to the stewards.

My Whippy (J. Holder) refused to leave the barriers at the start and subsequently reared, dislodging J. Holder. Trainer J. McLachlan was advised that My Whippy must obtain two further barrier certificates, one of which must be obtained in an official barrier trial before the horse again races.

Near the 900m, Hawk Hunter (O. Turpin) shifted out, making contact with Clickgotheshears (K. Pope). Hawk Hunter then raced wide for the remainder of the event.
Stewards questioned apprentice O. Turpin and trainer T. Miller regarding the tactics adopted to race Hawk Hunter three wide rather than trail Swell in the early stages of the event.

Apprentice Turpin explained it was his intention to ride the horse with a sit however when the pace steadied approaching the 900m, Hawk Hunter began to over-race badly and he was then obliged to ease that horse wider on the track.

He further explained that at that point D. Brown, rider of Swell, also increased the tempo of the race, which resulted in Hawk Hunter being caught wide for the majority of the race.

Trainer T. Miller confirmed the instructions were to ride the horse with a sit and agreed with the actions taken by the rider during the event. Stewards noted the explanation.

Apprentice M. Hellyer was fined $100 for returning to scale in excess of half a kilogram over his declared riding weight. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account the circumstances surrounding this matter and M. Hellyer's previous good record in relation to this rule.