EF JULY 24 - HAT TRICK FOR FILLYDELPHIA

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Eagle Farm, July 24, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2.5m.
QTIS 600 Handicap (Two-year-olds) - 1500m.
Time: 1-30.06. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Fillydelphia; 2 Igles Star; 3 Mossriver.

The Robert Heathcote trained Fillydelphia scored her third successive win when coming home when plenty in hand to outgun the useful Ingles Star by a decisive three length margin.

The three successive wins recorded by this smart daughter of Bianconi have come over 1200m, 1350 and now 1500m as she has carried all before her, producing the goods each time a new task has been set for her.

Not surprisingly, Fillydelphia started favourite here and the followers of the main fancy had little to worry about during the ninety seconds the Heathcote runner took to race from barrier to post.

Jockey Larry Cassidy eased Fillydelphia out of the barriers and he was content to allow others to hustle for position at the head of affairs in the early part while he found a comfortable berth for Fillydelphia in seventh spot.

Fillydelphia might have settled with six horses in front of her, but she was only a little over three lengths off the front-runner Craiglea Tina who held a narrow lead over Care Bear.

These two runners were setting a fair pace and they were joined by Dragon Rocker, in a line of three, in the sweep to the turn. Igles Star and Federer Express were next best, with Cassidy keeping an eye on proceedings a couple of lengths behind that pair.

Care Bear was eased out of the speed battle approaching the turn. That left Craiglea Tina and Dragon Rocker disputing the lead on straightening. Care Bear was still there. Federer Express was prominent along the inside, but the more important action was about to unfold out four wide on the track where Igles Star was cornering with Fillydelphia hard on his heels.

Fillydelphia continued to track Igles Star as the latter ranged up to the leaders. With 300m left to run Cassidy had moved Fillydelphia within three-quarters-of-a-length of Igles Star.

Cassidy clearly knew what he had under him at that stage as he sneaked a glance over his left shoulder to see if there was anything that might concern him coming from behind. There was not … and that allowed Cassidy the luxury of choosing his moment when to give Filliydelphia her head.

Igles Star got to the lead at the 250m but he had to relinquish that position when Cassidy gave Fillydelphia the green light at the 200m mark. The filly had her race won within a matter of strides as she surged forward to put the issue beyond doubt.

It was an impressive performance.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Robert Heathcote: “We’ve always known she is pretty good. That’s three wins from her last three starts and it’s the emphatic way in which she is doing it that is so impressive.

“I have to say that is the way she has got to be ridden. How can you say that was not an eleven out of ten ride by Larry (Cassidy). Absolutely perfect ride.

“Early days I earmarked her as potentially a real nice staying filly, but until they actually do it you don’t know. I mean she’s done it there today. She’s carried 56kg.

“Like I said Larry rode her eleven out of ten. He got her in the perfect position. I said to Larry beforehand, if you can get her in that ideal position … fourth, fifth … as it turned out he got back a bit further than that, but he produced her at the right time.

“In two weeks time there is another 1500m race for three-year-olds. I think it’s too good to say no. Strike while the iron’s hot. That’s three-in-a-row. Why not go for four-in-a-row?

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 1000m or 2400m. If they’ve got a change of gear, they’ve got a future. This horse has got that turn of foot.”

Jockey Larry Cassidy: “Yeah, look, she’s a filly I’ve always had a lot of time for after I won the first race on her. She’s improved and, you know, Rob (Heathcote) has done a great job with her.

“Her track-work has been exceptional and she certainly showed that today the way she won.

“The opposition today was probably the best she’s faced but, you know, it was certainly not any great opposition, so she has still got to step up to the mark, but she is really impressive.

“There’s not too many horses I’ve ridden that can really dash off the mark like she can. It is a great attribute to have and that makes her an exciting filly.

“You know, the main thing is to get her relaxed and, who knows, she might run further.

“In track-work, no she doesn’t relax, but we are slowly fixing it. She is a bit excitable at track-work. Race-days she is different. She is more relaxed on race-day. Like going to the start she’s got her head down. At track-work she’s got her head in the air, but we’re fixing that.

“So race-days she is a different horse which is a good sign. She knows what it is all about.

“If she can sprint like that, she will be very hard to beat in anything. If you can get her to relax and run a journey, they can’t get beat … because few can sprint like that.

“I’m sure when she comes back as a three-year-old she will be competitive in anything she runs in.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Fillydelphia): 3.50 in to 2.80 out to 3.00.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Second Draw (M. Walker) was inclined to lay out in the middle stages.

Federer Express (J. Bowditch) and Hidden Treasure (A. Best) over-raced in the early stages.

Dragon Rocker (L. Cheshire) raced wide in the early and middle stages before being ridden forward to assume the position outside the leader near the 700m.

Federer Express was held up and unable to improve in the early part of the straight until approaching the 200m.

Near the 250m Hidden Treasure had to be checked off the heels of Dragon Rocker when held up for clear running.

Approaching the 200m Hidden Treasure obtained a narrow run between Care Bear (J. Byrne) and Dragon Rocker and shortly after had to be checked when Care Bear shifted in slightly and Dragon Rocker shifted out away from Federer Express. When assessing this matter, stewards determined that this incident could not be attributed to any rider error and therefore took no direct action.

Stewards sought an explanation from G. Colless regarding the disappointing performance of Quickasair. G. Colless explained that the horse travelled well in a midfield position with cover, however failed to respond to his riding from the 600m and in his view was disappointing. Trainer A. Bailey indicated that Quickasair would now be sent for an immediate spell. A post-race veterinary examination of Quickasair revealed no abnormalities.

When questioned as to the poor performance of Birds Of Song, which weakened badly in the home straight, J. Taylor stated that the horse did not travel well at any stage and felt its action was somewhat abnormal. A post-race veterinary examination of Birds Of Song (J. Taylor), revealed no significant abnormalities. Trainer K. Deacon indicated that he would have further tests carried out on the horse in the days following the race and advised that the horse may be sent for a spell.

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