MV JULY 24 - BONINDI FIGHTS OFF STREETFIGHTER
By Taron Clarke | Monday, July 26, 2010
Moonee Valley, July 24, 2010.
Track - Slow 7. Rail - Out 3 metres.
Open Handicap - 1514m. Time: 1-34.97. (Carrying 54.5kg).
1 Bonindi; 2 Streetfighter; 3 Macedonian.
Jockey Holly McKechnie recorded her first Victorian metropolitan winner since returning from a three year disqualification aboard the Darryl Dodson trained Bonindi.
McKechnie was disqualified by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after being found guilty of using an electrical device more commonly known as a ‘jigger’ during a steward’s trackwork raid at Horsham one morning in late 2006.
Determined to put the past behind her, Mckechnie was seen at her brilliant best aboard Bonindi in the Hiskens Cup over 1514m.
The field was dispatched evenly form the start and jockey McKechnie allowed the chestnut son of Special Bond to slide to the front as the field approached the first turn.
Her time in front was short lived though as noted fronted runner Prospect took up the running and this allowed Bonindi to secure a lovely run in transit two lengths behind the leader, with Canary Islands trialling him a further length and half astern.
The favourite for the race was the Matthew Enright trained galloper Tiakinui, who was coming off a disappointing eighth to Doubtful Jack in the Winter Championship Final two weeks earlier. Ridden by Glen Boss, Tiakinui was able to settle a touch better than midfield on the outside of Newcastle Cup winner Streetfighter who himself was resuming from a spell.
The field worked down the side of the course, and McKechnie was able to stalk the leader Prospect everywhere he went.
At this stage the speed was only moderate, and jockey Craig Williams was able to save ground along the fence on Streetfighter and move into a striking position within four lengths of the leading pair.
Favourite pairing Glen Boss and Tiakinui were back in the ruck and did not look confortable in between runners as he jostled for clear galloping room.
Jason Maskiell on board Prospect made an attempt to increase the tempo as the field commenced to turn for home, but Holly McKechnie was adamant not to let him get too far away and she urged her mount Bonindi along to sit up outside Prospect.
This move by McKechnie allowed Craig Williams on board Streetfighter the opportunity to ease off the fence and attempt to secure a run outside of the leading pair’s heels. Favourite Tiakinui and jockey Glen Boss were working to the outside of runners approaching the home turn.
Streetfighter was the medium of a long range betting move after he opened up in betting at 20.00 and eased to 41.00 before firming late in betting to start 20.00.
As soon as the pressure was applied to early leader Prospect he compounded, leaving Bonindi and jockey Holly McKechnie a sitting shot in front as the field balanced up for the run to the winning post.
Jockey Williams presented his mount Streetfighter to the outside of Bonindi and looked certain to challenge. Responding well to the strong whip riding of Holly McKechnie, Bonindi was fighting on like a caged lion.
Williams and Streetfighter loomed large at the one hundred metre mark, but lack of recent racing told over the concluding stage as his run ended fifty metres out and Bonindi and McKechnie were able to see it out and hold off Streetfighter by a short head.
The eye catcher in the event was the Peter Moody trained Macedonian, who flashed home from the second half of the field to grab third beaten a further length-and-a-quarter astern.
Favourite Tiakinui, although making a promising move around the home turn, never looked a winning chance before grinding home for fourth position. He may be better suited on a larger track.
WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Darryl Dodson: “He’s probably not the world’s greatest talent, but he’s the world’s greatest trier.
“He just fights especially if something comes up beside him, he’ll dig in and have a go.
“I thought Holly (McKechnie) did extremely well. She let that one go, which give us a nice little cart into the race.
“I thought the others were coming a bit, but she just gradually made ground. It was good.
“He’s always been a trier. Right from the start he showed us a bit and he’s delivered.
“We might just try and step him up a little further, but on the wet ground and this sort of company he seems to be pretty competitive.
“I don’t know whether we will get beyond the 2000m, but a trier will get you a long way.”
Jockey Holly McKechnie: “He’s just such a really good trier ... he’s just lovely to ride.
“I wasn’t sure whether I would lead or not. I just wanted to see how the tempo worked out, but he hasn’t really got a turn of foot. He’s just got to work into it so he started making a move about the 800m.
“He tries really hard. He doesn’t like letting them past him.
“This is my first win back since suspension.”
PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Bonindi): 4.60 out to 7.00 firmed to start 6.00.
Tiakinui was the favourite at 4.40.
STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Diggersanddealers raced wide without cover.
Canary Islands over-raced in the early and middle stages.
After passing the 400m, Pinnacles was unable to improve its position when held up for clear running and after shifting out near the 300m, Pinnacles clipped the heels of Canary Islands and blundered.
Whe questioned regarding the performance of Davcon today, trainer Mr H. Conners could not afford any explanation for the below par performance. He added that Davcon had trialled twice since coming back from a lengthy spell and expected a forward showing today.
Mr Conners undertook to notify the Stewards should he detect anything in the near future that may explain the performance. Subsequent to the race, a veterinary examination of Davcon revealed no abnormality.
Mr H. Conners was also fined $100 for failing to notify Stewards by the prescribed time that Davcon was racing in normal race plates today as compared to glue on shoes in its last preparation.
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