FLEM MAR 06 - FAINT PERFUME’S SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

By Scott Gooley | Monday, March 8, 2010

Flemington, March 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True.
Kewney Stakes (Group 2 - 3yo Fillies) - 1400m.
Time: 1.23:35 (Carrying 55.5kgs).
1 Faint Perfume; 2 Response; 3 No Evidence Needed.

VRC Oaks winning filly Faint Perfume has returned to racing in good style, winning the Group Two Tabcorp Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington’s Super Saturday meeting.

As much as $12 was bet on the daughter of Shamardal in early markets, an offer her supporters were more than happy to accept before the price tumbled in to see her start at $5.50.

Piloted by Michael Rodd, Faint Perfume started well from barrier eight in the ten horse contest before Rodd took hold of the Bart Cummings filly and settled her at the tail of the field after 200m.

Settling down it was Baby Corn who showed the way, three-quarters-of-a-length in front of Rostova who took a forward position from her inside draw and Sydney visitor Gigas third on the fence.

Race favourite Trim ($4) was perfectly positioned fourth with Faint Perfume last, eight lengths off the lead.

Racing toward the home turn, Baby Corn was still travelling well for her Jockey Dwayne Dunn and held a neck advantage over Rostova.

Peeling three wide was Trim who was making her run along with No Evidence Needed who, after being caught wide for a majority of the race, was moving forward out four wide.

Faint Perfume, with Rodd easing her off the rail, was still last but only five lengths off the pace.

At the 300m mark Baby Corn quickly gave in, leaving Rostova in front by a length over Trim and No Evidence Needed.

Rodd had found a path inside the widest runner Response and for the first time in the race, had clear running in front of him. With three lengths to make up he began to ask the filly for her final effort.

Gigas, Trim and No Evidence Needed raced to Rostova and, with Irish Lights railing through on the inside and Faint Perfume and Response winding up on the outside, there was little between the six runners as they raced inside the final 100m.

Rodd had timed his run to perfection on Faint Perfume and the classy filly finished best of all to edge away to record a three-quarters-of-a-length win from a wall of horses headed by Response ($31).

Third placed No Evidence Needed showed good determination after a tough run throughout to keep Gigas, Irish Lights and Trim narrowly out of the placings.

PRICES:
Faint Perfume (5.50); Response (31.00); No Evidence Needed (13.00).
The 4.00 favourite Trim finished fourth.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Bart Cummings: “The Oaks winners can win this if they are the class she’s proved to be.

“We were quite happy with her and I thought she’d run very well and she’s lived up to the expectations.

“We’re going to try and win the Oaks in New South Wales, that’s the plan. Naturally we’ll have a run or two in between and we’ll sort that out after she gets over this. We’ll give her a bit of a break from this.

“She hasn’t grown much, but she’s got a great constitution. She loves what she is doing. She likes it here in Melbourne and we couldn’t be happier with her.

“She’s very relaxed and contented. She’s a bit better than we think.”

Jockey Michael Rodd: “She’s just a super filly. What can you say? I trialled her twice and I couldn’t believe how well she was trialling. I kept looking down at the number on the side to make certain it was her.

“Leading into this we were all pretty confident. The stable was very confident with the way she was going. She’s just such a tough little thing. She keeps eating her head off and they keep serving it up to her.”

“It was a massive return over the 1400. I guess the set weights help a lot, but I sort of worried coming in today. It didn’t look like many were coming from behind, but she turned that pattern around.

“They bunched up on the turn so I was able to get right up behind them and she’s got that really good turn of foot and then she keeps grinding away. While the others will probably sprint and then die off, she’ll just keep going.”

“She’s just super honest.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Europa Point was held up rounding the home turn and for some distance in the early part of the home straight before gaining clear running after passing the 200m.

When the pace slackened passing the 800m Fomalite had to be restrained off the heels of Gigas and as a result lugged out tightening the running of Europa Point which in turn forced No Evidence Needed three wide without cover.

G Boss reported that after gaining a run to the inside of Rostova, his mount (Irish Lights) was then inclined to hang out under pressure near the 200m.

A post race veterinary examination of Europa Point revealed the filly to be slightly lame in the off-foreleg and will need a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to racing again.

The Club’s veterinary surgeon reported that Gigas, when being led from the course, got away from its attendant. A subsequent veterinary examination of Gigas revealed the filly to be very lame in the near-hind leg and sustained deep wounds to the hock, pastern and pelvis and also lacerations and abrasions to the near foreleg.

The filly also sustained bruising to the body due to the heavy hailstorm. A veterinary certificate of fitness is required prior to Gigas racing again.

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