DOOM MAY 15 - ALBERT THE FAT STEALS THE SHOW

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 15, 2010

His connections wanted to name him Fat Albert, but when that name was unavailable they juggled a few words and came up with the name Albert the Fat.

At Doomben on Saturday the name had a Group 1 ring to it after the Eden Petrie trained chestnut stormed home in a thrilling finish to edge out Melitio to claim the $400000 BTC Cup.

It was a case of score one for locals. Queensland might not have had the numbers in the race, the home state fielded only two of the twelve runners but, in a pressurised three way go to the line, it was the Canungra based son of Magic Albert whose drive and commitment carried the day by the narrowest of margins as he kept the hard-charging Melito back in second place by the proverbial nose.

The win provided Petrie with his first Group 1 success while it was the third Group 1 win for jockey Damian Browne, whose latest success represents a feel-good, comeback story. It was the day when all of the hard work that Browne has put in to get back to his best following a succession of serious injuries finally found a special reward.

The Group 3 Rough Habit Plate went to the John Bary trained The Hombre.

The record books will show that The Hombre was awarded his success in the stewards’ room after his rider Jonathan Riddell had lodged a successful protest against Tee Emar who had beaten him to the line.

In truth though, the race was actually won and lost when Tee Emar veered out and took up The Hombre’s running approaching the 200m mark. The outward movement of Tee Emar was undisputed ... the influence of that movement on the outcome was significant and, with only a short-neck between Tee Emar and The Hombre at the line, and with the latter closing ground, the stewards’ call was one of the easier protest decisions they have had to make.

The other Group 3 race on the card, the Chairman’s Handicap, went the way of Crossthestart who came home to a dashing victory. The gelding provided the Bevan and Richard Laming trained stable with a race-to-race double after they had scored with Ringa Ringa Rosie one race earlier in the Listed Hampden Stakes for two-year-olds.

Jockey Chris Munce went one better, winning three races in succession. Munce scored on the Troy Hall trained Pertinence in the third race and then rode the two Laming trained winners in races four and five.

Jim Byrne added his customary winner (aboard the Clarry Conners trained Albertinelli) to extend his lead at the top of the Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership.

The flashy chestnut Fab Fevola and the game gelding The Sixties scored in the opening race and the last race on the card respectively. Fab Fevola is trained by Bryan Guy and he was ridden by Paul Hammersley. The Sixties is trained by Tracy Green and he was ridden by Jason Holder.

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