SCST FEB 28 - THREE-IN-A-ROW FOR A REJUVENATED PIETRO VANNUCCI

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Sunshine Coast, February 28, 2010.
Track - Cushion.
Open Handicap - 1400m. Time: 1-27.79. (Carrying 53kg).
1 Pietro Vannucci; 2 Silvern; 3 Frisco's In Charge.

The Russell Kirwin trained Pietro Vannucci has emerged a rejuvenated horse since trying the cushion track and he completed a hat trick of wins here when getting up by a short-half-head after a stride for stride battle with the short-priced favourite Silvern over the concluding stages of the race.

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer kept Pietro Vannucci back in last place some four lengths off the lead in the early part as Silvern went out at an ordinary gallop to set an easy tempo. Hellyer brought Pietro Vannucci four wide on the turn and, when Silvern kicked early in the straight, the gelding was quick to give chase.

Pietro Vannucci improved to become the only threat to Silvern inside the final 200m and these two runners became embroiled in a stride for stride battle of the last 150m. They went to the line together with the result going the way of Pietro Vannucci by a narrow margin.

The win gave apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer a treble at the meeting.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Russell Kirwin: “He is sort of re-born since going on to the cushion track. He was just about ready for his retirement and now he’s had three goes for three wins on the cushion track.

“The pattern’s been pretty much the same. He generally just drops out and when he makes a run it is just one sweep around them. He just got there today, but now it looks like there might be another win in him yet.

“It was only just the bob of a head … there was nothing in it … but he was fighting on really strongly. His three wins have been over three different distances. His range is from about 1200 to 1600m.”

Jockey Michael Hellyer: “When we moved forward I thought, I’ve got this one easy. You know, when I went for him he dashed. He did everything right and I thought, I’m home here.

“When I got to the 100 and Silvern was still there, I thought I’m going to have to lay into him here. Silvern fought back as he always does. I was just fortunate enough that my one had a lot of heart and we got him on the line.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Pietro Vannucci): 3.20 out to 3.30.
Favourite (Silvern): 1.50 out to 1.60. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Pietro Vannucci (M. Hellyer) was slow to begin. Pelltro (J. Taylor) over-raced in the early and middle stages of the event.