EF MAR 20 - TABULATE OUTCLASSES HIS RIVALS

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 22, 2010

Eagle Farm, March 20, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Open Handicap - 2200m. Time: 2-15.20. (Carrying 57kg).
1 Tabulate; 2 Encosta Tszyu; 3 Yield Curve.

The Robert Heathcote trained Tabulate confirmed the fact that his connections will have some useful options open to them come Winter Carnival time when he trounced his opposition to complete back to back wins at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Jockey Jim Byrne, who had partnered Tabulate in his previous success, knew the turn of foot that the five-year-old possessed and he accordingly rode a calculated race, biding his time before bringing Tabulate’s race-winning acceleration into play.

Encosta Tszyu got first run on the Heathcote runner and tried to skip away early in the straight, but once Byrne gave Tabulate the green light, it became an uneven contest as Tabulate breezed to the lead and strode away to win by a commanding 4.50 length margin.

Tabulate is now a six-time winner (with six runner-up finishes) from twenty-seven starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “Yeah, he’s going good. He started off this prep and he was a little bit unlucky in his first two or three runs, but lately his last three or four have been fantastic. I have openly said this preparation, he is a pretty good horse on the up this bloke.

“I’ll probably put him in the paddock now, just for a little let-up, because I want to come back and have a crack at races like the Coloundra Cup ... and possibly the Ipswich Cup and Grafton Cup ... these type of races that he had a bit of a crack at last year.

“He is a lot more seasoned now. I think Jimmy Byrne said when I was away when he won on him last time, he really lets down when you ask him. Any stayer that can show a turn of foot ... and he gets back, but he relaxes back there ... any stayer that can show a turn of foot like that is always going to be competitive."

Jockey Jim Byrne: “In these races where there is no real tempo in the race, if you rush forward you generally get caught in a little bit of a battle where everyone is pulling and whatnot.

“He’s a true stayer, so just leave him relaxed.

“Just at the half-mile, I thought, ok as long as someone is starting to roll forward I’d jump onto its back at the half-mile. No sooner had I put my heels on the outside of one, one’s tried to push me out three deep, so I’ve just come back in behind and let him take me into the straight.

“Funnily enough, you know, it was my intention to actually start to roll forward but I thought if he (Encosta Tszyu) hooks out ... that’s fine ... at least I can jump onto his back. But, when I gave him a little bit of a squeeze to start to roll forward, he actually grabbed the bit and started to really want to travel into the race a little bit.

“It was just one of those things. Sometimes with stayers you just want them to free roll into the race. You don’t really want to squeeze and put them on the bit too early. Probably that’s what happened. I put him on the bit a little too early thinking they were going to start to roll on a bit. But as it turned out he was just better than them.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Tabulate): 1.95 out to 2.40.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Correct weight was delayed to allow apprentice T. Bell, rider of the 3rd place-getter Yield Curve, the opportunity to view the stewards' patrol footage in the home straight to ascertain if he had grounds to protest against Encosta Tszyu (B. El-Issa) being declared 2nd alleging interference in the straight.

After viewing the footage, apprentice Bell did not wish to proceed with the protest and correct weight was declared on the Judge's placings. Subsequently, it was established passing the 300m, Encosta Tszyu shifted in, which resulted in Yield Curve being momentarily tightened for room. B. El-Issa, rider of Encosta Tszyu, was advised of his obligations to be fully clear before shifting ground in future.

Approaching the 700m, Encosta Tszyu shifted out to improve around the heels of Yield Curve (T. Bell), which resulted in Tabulate (J. Byrne) being taken wider on the track.

Stewards sought an explanation from rider M. Speers and trainer R. Heathcote in respect to the tactics employed on On The Up today.

Trainer R. Heathcote indicated he had not issued any strict instructions on how to ride the gelding however advised M. Speers if the pace was excessively slow he should attempt to take up a forward position.

M. Speers explained that he was of the opinion after studying the form on the race that he would be positioned in the first four on settling. He added that On The Up began well today and as it appeared that he may have been able to secure the lead, he urged the horse forward in the early stages in order to do so.

M. Speers further stated that, in his opinion, he controlled the lead at a pace that afforded On The Up every opportunity to finish the race off over the concluding stages. Bearing in mind the sectional times during the race, stewards accepted the explanations tendered.

A post race veterinary examination of On The Up revealed the gelding to be showing a harshness in its respiration. Trainer R. Heathcote was advised that he must provide the results of an endoscopic examination on On The Up, and a veterinary clearance would also be required prior to its next race start.

Stewards sought an explanation from jockey L. Cassidy and trainer R. Heathcote in respect to the poor performance of Eureka. L. Cassidy stated that the horse travelled satisfactorily during the race, however it was under pressure prior to the home turn and failed to respond to his riding thereafter.

Trainer R. Heathcote advised stewards that he was again disappointed with the performance of the gelding and would give serious consideration to spelling the gelding. A post race veterinary examination of Eureka failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

When questioned regarding the performance of Ivy's League, C. Munce explained that he was able to settle in a forward position due to the slow tempo in the early and middle stages, however when he commenced to ride that gelding along after leaving the 500m Ivy's League did not quicken as he had expected and, in his opinion, was disappointing. A post race veterinary examination of Ivy's League failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.