EF JULY 24 - SIR KINGSFORD TOUGHS IT OUT

By Graham Potter | Thursday, July 29, 2010

Eagle Farm, July 24, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 2.5m.
Class 6 Handicap - 2188m.
Time: 2-10.97. (Carrying 56.5kg).
1 Sir Kingsford; 2 Diago; 3 Malandrina.

It might have been a long time between drinks for Sir Kingsford, but the Len Bryant trained gelding’s commitment has never been in question and the seven-year-old earned an overdue reward when he beat Diago by a nose at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Sir Kingsford’s last won in the Metropolitan arena fourteen months ago. On that occasion he just managed to beat out Little Stranger by the narrowest of margins and he once again had to call on all of his fighting qualities to prevail this around in a highly pressurised finish.

Sir Kingsford raced in sixth place on the rail, a little bit cramped for galloping room as the field left the home straight first time around. The chestnut was four lengths off the leader (Tuscany View) at that stage.

As more speed went into the race going down the back straight, Sir Kingsford went back to seventh spot, six-and-a-half lengths behind the front-running Tuscany View who was being tracked by Loves A Challenge.

Jockey Chris Munce was quite happy where he was and, with Sir Kingsford loping along in comfortable fashion, Munce was content to hold his position while ensuring that he stayed within striking distance of the action.

When the speed quickened appreciably again in the sweep to the turn, Munce revved up his mount and Sir Kingsford was travelling will when he cornered in sixth spot, three wide, some five-and-a-half lengths behind Loves A Challenge who had taken the lead away from a fast tiring Tuscany View.

The race favourite Diago, who had loafed along at the back of the field ridden ice-cold for most of the journey, was a further four lengths behind Sir Kingsford, but jockey Michael Cahill had now switched the main fancy out seven wide into clear running and he was winding Diago up for his final finishing effort.

The grey Malandrina was the first to go after Loves A Challenge in the first half of the straight. Tarrayoukhan threatened briefly, then faded just as quickly. Siong Tee was game along the inside. Diago was now in full cry as the widest runner on the track while Sir Kingsford was plugging away, but he was hardly displaying winning acceleration.

Diago actually went past Sir Kingsford at the 200m mark. Far from forcing him to throw in the towel, Diago’s move seemed to motivate Sir Kingsford, and he tacked on to Diago and refused to go away.

It was as if Sir Kingsford was glued to Diago as they both closed on the lead, which, inside the final 150m, was now held by the flying grey, Malandrina. Loves A Challenge was beaten. Siong Tee was battling on, but Diago looked to be finishing best of all and he was hailed as the likely winning as the leaders raced towards the concluding stages of the event.

But just as Diago got his nose in front, his run peaked. Malandrina fought back, but Diago was still within touching distance of what would have been his third career victory when Munce and Sir Kingsford found the strength to have one final go.

They surged up late and got the head down when it mattered most to claim a thrilling victory by the narrowest of margins as only a nose and a short-head separated the three place-getters.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Len Bryant: “Early on I had a doubt about how far he would go, because he is predominantly bred to sprint on the dam side, but he has just got a bit more dour as he has got older and, yeh, he’s got there. That’s the main thing.

“He had never won at Eagle Farm before (in eight previous goes), but he has run some good races here.

“Before Larry Cassidy won on him at the start of the Winter Carnival last year, Danny Craven rode him here and he flew home over 1400m. He’s been very unlucky a couple of times this time in and run a couple of good runs this time in, so I didn’t have any real worry about the track.

“Yes, he is lightly raced.” (Sir Kingsford is a seven-year-old with only twenty-seven starts behind his name). “He’s had his problems. You name it. He’s had it. EI … a bowed tendon … he’s had haematoma’s … this time in he’s had abscess’s on his heels. He’s had everything. He just keeps coming back, so he thoroughly deserves his win, that’s for sure.”

Jockey Chris Munce: I’ve had a good last couple of meetings. Mate, you’ve just got to get on the right ones, haven’t you. That’s the key to it.

“He’s a tough old bugger. He ran very well the other day (when Munce rode him into second place behind Firebolt). Len assured me there was a good bit of improvement in him.

“He probably didn’t really have to improve that much to pick up a race like this. He had all the favours with a soft barrier … and he has a nice run throughout the race … but he stuck his head out there and had a real good go.

“At one stage I thought Michael (Cahill, riding Diago) was going to push past me and just go on and win the race the way he sort of came up to me, but, you know, his horse probably died on its run at about the 100m and my bloke just toughed it right out.

“You can ask anything more than a horse that tries like that. He deserved to win that race that bloke. He travelled a little bit stronger than I would have wanted early on, but he was very well and, like I say, he deserved the win.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sir Kingsford): 4.40 out to 5.00.
Favourite (Diago): 4.00 in to 3.70 out to 4.00. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Don Vito was a late scratching at 1.05 p.m. after trainer's representative Mr A. Banks informed stewards that the horse had not been transported to the races and that a stable-mate (Dark Secrets) had been inadvertently transported to the track. After taking some evidence from Mr Banks, the matter was adjourned until Thursday, 29 July, to allow Trainer T. Sears to be present and provide evidence.

Trainer L. Birchley was reprimanded under AR. 124 for presenting Diago late into the mounting yard.

Correct weight was delayed to allow trainer L. Birchley (Diago) the opportunity to view the photo-finish and the stewards patrol footage of the final 150m of the race, and also to allow M. Hellyer, the rider of 4th placegetter Siong Tee, to view the footage of the final 300m of the event to determine whether he had grounds to lodge an objection against 3rd placegetter Malandrina.

After viewing the photo finish and the video footage, both Mr Birchley and jockey M. Hellyer indicated that they did not wish to proceed with lodging an objection and correct weight was declared on the Judge's numbers.

Diago (M. Cahill) and Moon Chaser (E. Wilkinson) made contact on jumping away.

Bail Me Out (C. Small), Loves A Challenge (B. El-Issa) and Winmara (J. Taylor) were tightened for room at the start between Gaze On (J. Bowditch) and Malandrina (R. Wiggins), which shifted out.

Loves A Challenge raced three wide in the early stages. Moon Chaser and Mr Mayfair (B. Stewart) raced wide throughout.

Near the 1000m Diago (M. Cahill), which had raced at the rear of the field, appeared to lose contact with the main body of the field. When questioned in relation to this aspect, M. Cahill explained that he had been specifically instructed to position the horse with cover in an endeavour to have the horse relax.

He added that after settling at the rear the horse travelled well and whilst it did lose some ground at that point, he was reluctant to bustle the horse as he felt that may not be in the horse's best interests to commence a forward move to improve into the race from that point.

He added that whilst the horse ran home well, it had a tendency to lay in and may have peaked on its run just prior to the finishing line.

After passing the 600m Tarrayoukyan (J. Byrne) shifted out around the heels of Malandrina to improve and bumped Moon Chaser.

After passing the 200m Siong Tee (M. Hellyer) became awkward at the heels of Malandrina when attempting to improve into a run between Maladrina and Loves A Challenge.

Near the 100m Siong Tee was tightened for room momentarily between Malandrina and Loves A Challenge which shifted out under pressure.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance Tarrayoukyan today, J. Byrne stated that he was intent on having the horse settle and the horse travelled reasonably well, however when asked for an effort the horse failed to finish the race off as expected.

J. Byrne added that in his opinion Tarrayoukyan did not run out the distance of today's race and may be better suited being brought back in distance.

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