DOOM MAY 29 - RUN FOR LEVI CAUSES MAJOR BOILOVER

By Graham Potter and Matthew Grimson | Thursday, June 3, 2010

Doomben, May 29, 2010.
Phoenix Stakes (2yo - Listed - Set Weights) - 1350m.
Time: 1-20.84. (Carrying 56kg).
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True.
1 Run For Levi; 2 Big Chance; 3 Ringa Ringa Rosie.

When the boilover arrives, it is often the case that the runner who succeeds at a long price doesn't fluke the result, but rather wins on merit making a mockery of the odds. That was the case with the John Thompson trained Run For Levi, who outgunned his opposition to land the Listed Phoenix Stakes over 1350m at Doomben on Saturday.

Run For Levi landed in the leading line. With nobody else keen to go out and set the target, jockey Nash Rawiller elected to push Run For Levi forward from his wide draw. The colt had little difficulty in cruising to the lead where he settled into a comfortable rhythm ahead of Startsmeup, Just Destiny and Big Chance, who were all content to hold a watching brief just behind the leader. The main fancy Ringa Ringa Rosie was back in tenth spot in the early stages, racing along the rail some six lengths off the speed.

Run For Levi continued to dictate the course of events until the turn. Rawiller asked Run For Levi to extend soon after straightening and he found he had a willing partner as Run For Levi kicked on strongly in the first half of the straight.

Startsmeup and Big Chance gave chase with meaning with Just Destiny was also staying on. Mirjulisa Lass threatened briefly along the inside while jockey Chris Munce was hard at work trying to get Ringa Ringa Rosie to wind up and chase on from behind, but all the while Run For Levi continued to confound the issue as he kept finding the extra to keep the chasers at bay.

It was only inside the final 75m that the challengers started to get too close for comfort for Run For Levi as Big Chance made solid late inroads into Run For Levi's lead and Ringa Ringa Rosie suddenly found her feet and flew home, but Run For Levi had done enough to keep the result, eventually getting home by a short-half-head and a long-head from Big Chance and Ringa Ringa Rosie who finished second and third respectively. Startsmeup finished fourth.

Run for Levi starting price was $41.00. The colt retuned a tote win dividend of $69.70. He paid $13.60 for a place.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Toby Edmonds (assistant trainer to John Thompson): "He’s been working super this horse and that’s why we threw him in you know. He worked super at home. He is one of our better workers. A heap of people have said we shouldn’t be running but, hey, it’s like a lottery isn’t it?

"He’s in the TJ, not the Sires. Well, he is in both but he wouldn't run in the Sires. We wouldn’t back him up, I wouldn’t think. But we'll have a look and decide where we go from here.

"He is a pedigree horse. He is Spark Of Life's family. The Hussonet's, you know ... they are a good pedigree horse. Yeah, we probably thought he was our second stringer today (brehind Levi's Choice) but, you know, good rider on. The colt needed a real good rider up. Nash (Rawillier) is very strong. That’s what we got. His pedigree suggests he should handle the track and he did. It’s great.

"His first start across the road, you remember, was awful. He got beaten 400 yards I think. He’s just improved, improved, improved, you know. It’s just good he has won a stakes race.

"Probably on form he deserved to be at such long odds. These races, it’s a lottery. You throw them in and it’s come off today for us.

“We drew bad. Nash was always going to be positive. I didn’t know he was going to go that far forward but I am glad that he did."

Jockey Nash Rawiller: “Importantly he sort of really relaxes. When he got to the half mile
there he gave himself a pretty easy 400 ... 500m.

" He just really waited for them and raced a bit green in the later part of the straight but, you know, he is a horse that has good ability.

“I was pretty sure he did get there but, as I said, he got lost late and that may just caused a slight little bit of interference on the line. I was trying to sort of do the best I could without sort of losing the race either.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Run For Levi): 61.00 in to 41.00.
Favourite (Ringa Ringa Rosie): 3.60 out to 4.80. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Correct weight was delayed to allow P. Hammersley, rider of the 4th placegetter, Startsmeup, to view the video to ascertain whether he had grounds to lodge a protest against Run For Levi being declared the winner.

After viewing the film, P. Hammersley did not wish to proceed and correct weight was semaphored on the Judge's placings. At a subsequent inquiry, it was established that approaching and passing the finish line, Startsmeup had to be eased when tightened for room between Big Chance (D. Browne) and Run For Levi (N. Rawiller), which shifted out
under pressure.

N. Rawiller, rider of Run For Levi, was issued with a severe reprimand and advised to make greater efforts to stop riding and straighten his mounts when they shift ground in future.

Equissential (P. Wolfgram) was slow to begin. P. Wolfgram then eased his mount to take a position closer to the fence. Starcheeka (L. Innes) blundered shortly after the start. Kookaburras (D. Dunn) shifted in shortly after the start and struck the
heels of Levi's Choice (S. Katsidis).

If It Can It Will (S. Scriven) began awkwardly and lost ground. If It Can It Will then over-raced in the early and middle stages.

Approaching the 900m, Starcheeka (L. Innes) shifted in and bumped Ringa Ringa Rosie (C. Munce). Shortly after, Ringa Ringa Rosie shifted out and made heavy contact with Starcheeka.

Levi's Choice raced greenly in the early stages and passing the 900m, had to be restrained to avoid the heels of Starcheeka.

Raise Up (M. Walker) over-raced in the early stages and near the 800m continued to over-race and had to be checked off the heels of Playaction (G. Colless).

After passing the 800m, Equissential (P. Wolfgram), when racing fiercely, had to be checked off the heels of Kookaburras (D. Dunn).

M. Walker, rider of Raise Up, was issued with a charge of careless riding, in that he rode in a careless manner by failing to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount from shifting in at a point just inside the 600m, which resulted in Ringa Ringa Rosie (C. Munce) being forced across the heels of Mirjulisa Lass (M. Cahill), resulting in C. Munce having to take hold of Ringa Ringa Rosie.

After hearing submissions from M. Walker, stewards found him not guilty of the charge
as they were of the opinion that the manners of Raise Up, together with the contact initiated by Starcheeka, which was racing tight to the outside, resulted in the stewards finding they could not prove the charge to the requisite standard.

Big Chance (D. Browne), If It Can It Will (S. Scriven), Starcheeka (L. Innes) raced wide throughout.

Stewards questioned C. Munce regarding the reason for him shifting to the outside in the home straight when there seemed to be an opportunity to improve close to the rail on Ringa Ringa Rosie.

C. Munce stated that as Ringa Ringa Rosie is a big striding filly and was not completely
suited by the track conditions, he felt to it was best to shift wider on the track and afford the filly clear running rather improve to the inside and risk having to alter course and interfere with the filly's momentum to obtain clear running.

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