SCST FEB 28 - WIN NUMBER FIVE FOR MAJESTIC RULER

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Sunshine Coast, February 28, 2010.
Track - Cushion.
Class 4 Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-41.15. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Majestic Ruler; 2 Blistering Miss; 3 My Flight.

The Shirley Batten trained Majestic Ruler controlled the race from start to finish under a confident ride from apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer.

The victory was simple in its execution as Hellyer speared his mount to the front early and maintained a strong enough gallop all the way to the line to score with 1.50 lengths in hand.

The chestnut did have to deal with the persistent challenge of Blistering Miss, who was his only serious challenger in home straight. Majestic Ruler proved equal to that task and kept his game rival at bay to secure his fifth career victory in his twenty-seventh start.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Shirley Batten: “Yes they did give us a soft lead. But the thing was I didn’t know whether he would handle the Cushion Track. That’s the first time he’s ever run on it.

“So that was a very good result. We might be coming back to the Cushion Track.”

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer: “That was even easier than the one before (Daneodin). I knew I was going to lead, but to lead and get it so easy … I just couldn’t believe it. I was cantering around the back.

“I think that’s what helped the horse. You know the horse doesn’t find much when you go for it. To get it so easy in front … by the time I got to the 600 I just let him roll. He was just too good for them then.

“I think that is the way he likes it. He had a look at the big screen tv towards the end there. I was a bit worried, but he was just too good anyway.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Majestic Ruler): 3.50 out to 3.60.
Favourite (My Flight): 2.50 out to 2.80.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
As J. Letherby was ill, K. Cross was substituted as the rider of Icanwin. My Flight (M. Speers) was slow to begin.

Shortly after the start Patmoss (K. Wharton) was crowded for room when racing between Many Talents (T. Huxham) and Blistering Miss (J. Taylor), which shifted in.