DOOM MAR 31 - CINQUE TERRE HOLDS OFF WATTLE BRAVE

By Graham Potter | Thursday, April 1, 2010

Doomben, March 31, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 6.5m.
Maiden Handicap - 1640m. Time: 1-39.85. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Cinque Terre; 2 Wattle Brave; 3 Ivors Girl.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Brian Smith: “He is a nice horse ... but, you know, like everybody else you’ve got to find the right races and the right draws. That’s why he dropped back in distance. It just fitted into the plan of trying to find the right race.

“I don’t think it was any great race today, but at least he’s won a race in town.

“I‘ve had him since he came from New Zealand (the last six runs). He’s got a lot to live up to. He ran fourth behind that horse Wall Street in a Maiden in his last run in New Zealand.”

The Jeff Lynds trained Wall Street has won seven of his ten starts since that Maiden victory. His wins include success at Group 3, Group 2 and Group 1 level. Wall Street’s Group 1 win came in the Thorndon Mile where he beat subsequent Blamey Stakes winner Lord Tavistock.

Smith: “That kid (Justin Wood) was apprenticed to me early and he has come of age this kid. He is riding very well. He is riding like a Saturday rider.”

Apprentice jockey Justin Wood: “I was apprenticed to BJ (Smith) a fair while ago now and things just didn’t work out for my career.

“This is my first ride for BJ for a fair while and it comes up right on the back of my win on Lochiel on Saturday. He put me on today. I knew there wasn’t much form in the race and BJ ... I’d rate him the best staying trainer in Queensland for sure. I knew it was the horse to be on, particularly with a bit of weight off his back.

“I was hoping something would go along in front which it did ... (trainer) Barry Baldwin’s horse (The Goddess - ridden by apprentice Mitchell Wood in his first ride in town) went along in front and we just tucked in behind it ... got a nice trail. He was nice and relaxed.

“Coming to the turn, the leader was sort of stopping, but I just wanted to keep my momentum going down that camber. When we got there, he did quicken and he did surge ... but he did look around a little bit. I think he still needs time to mature and then he’ll be a better stayer for it.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Cinque Terre): 4.20 in to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Bowen Beauty (R. Wiggins) jumped awkwardly and lost ground.

A short distance after the start Thripence (J. Taylor) was taken in by Tiger’s Sins (P. Hammersley) and made heavy contact with Thereabouts (K. Sawyers).

Cinque Terre (J. Wood) raced three wide in the early stages before crossing to a position outside the leader near the 1200m.

The Enemy Within (L. Cassidy) raced three wide throughout without cover before weakening in the home straight.

Ivors Girl (T. Treichel) was held up for clear running in the early part of the straight behind The Goddess (M. Wood), which was weakening.

Stewards questioned M. Wood as to the riding tactics on The Goddess today whereby the horse went forward to lead, which is in contrast to its most recent racing pattern. Apprentice M. Wood reported that connections had indicated that the horse resents being restrained and from the wide barrier to allow the horse to settle where comfortable.

Trainer B. Baldwin stated that he did not anticipate the horse leading and confirmed his instructions that the horse resents being restrained. He added that whilst he was surprised that the horse assumed the lead, he was not surprised to see the horse racing in a more prominent position than it had been of recent times. The attention of trainer B. Baldwin was drawn to his obligation to notify stewards of any variation in riding tactics.

The track was upgraded to Dead 4 following the running of this event.