DOOM MAR 31 - IMAGERY IMPRESSES ON DEBUT

By Graham Potter | Thursday, April 1, 2010

Doomben, March 31, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 6.5m.
Maiden Handicap (3yo C&G) - 1110m. Time: 1-04.65. (Carrying 57kg).
1 Imagery; 2 Drum Run; 3 Sequalo Revenge.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “The ride (by Stahi Katsidis) probably won him the race, you know. A lot of blokes would have got beaten on him, I think. He just didn’t panic (when Imagery got into traffic problems mid-race) ... when he was four wide.

“He ended up getting there with a bit of luck on the way. He showed quite a bit and ended up winning with some authority.

“I was hoping a good run. You never know until you see it (Imagery was on debut here). Yeah, there was a betting move in Sydney, so they say. There are a few track-watchers around and they get it right occasionally.”

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “He’s got a lot of ability. He just hasn’t quite switched on in the head yet, but he is very smart.

“He had to come from a long way off them. He is a nice, big, long horse and once I got him into the open I knew he was going to win, it was just a matter of how far.

“I was very relaxed on him going to the line. He’ll win a nice handful of races this time in, but when he matures he is going to grow into a nice horse.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Imagery): 1.60 in to 1.50.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Connections advised that, from the wide barrier, it would be the intention to have North Vegas ridden back in the field.

Drum Run (B. El-Issa) and Imagery (S. Katsidis) were slow to begin.

Shortly after the start Sequalo Revenge (D. Griffin) shifted in and had to be steadied off the heels of All That (M. Speers).

For some distance after passing the 900m Imagery raced in restricted room between Drum Run and Regal Ruben (M. Cahill), which was shifting in slightly. Near the 800m Imagery was restrained when racing between Drum Run and Regal Ruben.

Groundshaker (J. Byrne) raced wide throughout without cover and was inclined to hang out in the middle stages.

Approaching the 100m both Sequalo Revenge and All That had to be eased when tightened for room by Drum Run which shifted in under pressure when not sufficiently clear. Jockey B. El-Issa, the rider of Drum Run, was issued with a severe reprimand and advised to stop riding and straighten his mounts sooner than he did on this occasion in future.