RHILL JULY 17 - MISS INDEPENDENT WINS AS SHE LIKES

By Garry Legg | Sunday, July 18, 2010

Rosehill Gardens, July 17, 2010.
Track - Dead (5). Rail - out 6m.
BC3 Future Stars Sale Handicap - 1200m.
BenchMark 80 (3yo and upwards, Fillies and Mares).
Margins - 2.50, Head. Time: 1-10.63.
1 Miss Independent ($14); Dystopia ($9), Shadow Miss ($31).

Miss Independent jumped from the one alley and was a little flat footed on jumping away. Apprentice Blake Spriggs bustled her along, she responded and then quickly made ground along the fence to be running third at the 800m.

Electric Dreams led at a good clip with Red Letter Daze racing to her outside and about a length away. Despite being ridden along early to gain a good position, Miss Independent had settled beautifully and tracked Electric Dreams into the straight.

Electric Dreams drifted away from the fence soon after straightening for home and was quickly under pressure. Red Letter Daze on her outside and Miss Independent, on the inside, quickly had the leader’s measure.

Miss Independent, who railed like a greyhound, responded to hands and heels riding by Spriggs to dash to the lead at the 300m. The young rider pulled the stick at the 150m, but there was no need as Miss Independent had the race well in her keeping, giving the young hoop his fifth win of the day.

Shadow Miss battled on for third and Dystopia, who raced near the rear throughout, finished strongly late to take second place.

The winner was impressive, but Spriggs grabbed the accolades with a remarkable five wins for the eight-race card.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Chris Waller (speaking about his winner): ‘’It must be Triple Crown’s party today (Miss Independent races in the Triple Crown Syndications logo), but yeh they’ve been good supporters of me.

“The horse has been in and out of form and took a trip to Queensland. Credit to our staff … they’ve got her to come back in great order and fire up today and she was given an outstanding ride.

‘’How well is he (Blake Spriggs) doing? That’s a remarkable effort. Only us that try Saturday racing know how hard it is. Saturday racing … to ride five winners is unbelievable.

Trainer Chris Waller (speaking about the second placed Dystopia): ‘’Yeh, it was very good. We rode her a little bit negatively because I thought she was just struggling for a bit of confidence last preparation.

“She ran first up in Melbourne and finished third behind Set For Fame and it just flattened her for her next two starts. She was first up again here. We wanted her to be a little bit quieter today and she’s hit the line strongly, so she’s come back very well.”

Jockey Blake Spriggs: ‘’I did have a good run. She didn’t jump all that flash, but two or three strides into it she really picked up the bit and travelled quite sweetly to the turn. When I said go she really let down."

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Miss Independent): 15.00 out to 17.00 in to 14.00.
Favourite (Modonna): 3.00 out to 3.30 in to 3.00. Finished tenth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Reine De Jeu began awkwardly. Shadow Miss knuckled over on jumping away.

Dystopia was briefly held up on the back of Modonna early in the straight and then close to the finishing line became unbalanced when bumped by Red Letter Daze, which shifted out under pressure.

App. B Spriggs, rider of the winner, Miss Independent, advised that his instructions had been to endeavour to be closer, but when Miss Independent dwelt slightly, he pushed his mount along and it improved quickly through on the inside and raced closer to the lead than he had intended.

Trainer Mr. C Waller was reminded of his obligations to inform Stewards of any change of tactics. Mr. Waller was also questioned relative to the improved showing of Miss Independent.

He stated that when the mare raced disappointingly at Randwick on 29 May 2010 it did not handle the heavy track and in a Listed race at Ipswich on 19 June 2010 he was disappointed when the mare got too far out of its ground.

When questioned concerning the performance of Modonna, N Rawiller stated that the filly raced a little further back than he had intended, but nevertheless travelled well in the run.

He added that, when asked for an effort in the straight, Modonna hung out and did not respond to his riding.

Stable representative Ms T Rouse indicated that Modonna had pleased in its track-work and in winning two trials leading in to today's first-up run. A post race veterinary examination of Modonna did not reveal any abnormalities. The inquiry was adjourned so that the Stewards may consider the report of a further examination by the stable veterinarian.