DOOM JULY 31 - BELLETRIST STARTS TO HIT HER STRAPS

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Doomben, July 31, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 2.5m. Pentrometer 5.6.
QTIS Handicap (3yo’s) - 1200m.
Time: 1-10.35. (Carrying 53.5kg).
1 Belletrist; 2 Our Mr Cashman; 3 Pinpoint Accuracy.

Trainer Troy Hall enjoys a win and when that victory comes on a Metropolitan track and is provided by a filly called Belletrist the adrenalin rush for Hall reaches a very high level.

The reason for that is two-fold and both factors are intricately entwined.

Belletrist has been something of a problem child early in her career. Highly-strung … super-charged, call it what you like, her pre-race antics for some time compromised her chances of performing to her true ability. Belletrist was so intense at times, that she never made it to the re-race parade, coming into the parade ring late and then going straight out onto the track.

Slowly, slowly … through the patience of Hall and his staff … Belletrist’s manners have improved, to the degree that, to quote the trainer, … “boy, she is becoming a racehorse now.”

Hall is not being wise after the event. Even before Belletrist notched up her fifth win from twelve starts at Doomben on Saturday, Hall was of the opinion that Belletrist is the best horse he has trained to date.

This latest win added further evidence to support that view, and the fact that it came at a starting price of $15.00 only added to the pleasure of the occasion.

The betting boards, in fact, suggested that the race was a ‘no contest’ and that the top weight and favourite Sweepstaking would simply romp in.

Those who took the restrictive odds of $1.95 about Sweepstaking’s chances were immediately in trouble when the favourite was taken back to last soon after the start … and a lonely last at that.

Even allowing that the daughter of Not A Single Doubt has been known to rattle home from well off the speed, the task set her here, asking her to pick up from way back under 59kg, was never going to carry the day. She was effectively out of the contest long before it had ended. (See Stewards Report Extract re: riding tactics).

Lucky Deluchi and Get That Indya set the early as jockey Michael Cahill settled Belletrist back in seventh place, just worse than midfield.

Lucky Deluchi was still under a good hold approaching then home turn, but Get That Indya was feeling the pressure and starting to fall away. (The gelding, who was pulled out of the race was later found to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia).

Lucky Deluchi straightened with a one-and-a-half length lead over Sequaboomwa who raced a similar distance ahead of the third placed Our Mr Cashman. At that stage Cahill had angled Belletrist out a full seven horses wide on the turn.

The Hall trained runner was now in eight place, some seven lengths off the leader. Sweepstaking was eight wide and a further length-and-a-half behind Belletrist.

Lucky Deluchi had a strong kick in the first half of the straight. That was too much for Sequaboomwa and Our Mr Cashman went past that one to chase the leader. Out wider on the track Belletrist was producing a measured finishing effort. She was still five lengths behind Lucky Deluchi at the 200m mark, but was closing and she was steadily building winning momentum.

With 100m left to run, Our Mr Cashman took the lead away from Lucky Deluchi, but his time in front was short-lived as Belletrist mowed the new leader down with the minimum of fuss to get to the head of affairs when it mattered most.

In the end Belletrist recorded a fluent victory as Cahill never asked anything more than what was necessary from his mount, riding only hands and heels over the concluding stages as Belletrist cruised to the line to bat Our Mr Cashman by 0.75 lengths.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Hall: “I honestly thought it was a two horse race between us and the favourite (Sweepstaking).

“I could not believe the price. We were amazed.

“She is the best horse I’ve ever had. The last two runs didn’t suggest that, but I was sure she would bounce back today and she has.

“She’s really settled down. This horse was very uptight early, you know. Her nerves got the better of her. It was just an adrenalin thing. She is a bit of a highly strung filly. I’ve got a great strapper … Hayley. She’s done all the work with her and just molly-coddled her and eventually she has learnt to fit into the flow.

“Now she’s come good. Her last three or four runs she has really started to settle down … and, oh boy, she is starting to become a racehorse now.

“I haven’t had any real good horses, but I’ve had good, handy horses and I’ve always thought she was my best.

“She didn’t have the best of luck last time. The rider probably came out a bit quiet on her the other day and then she hit the fence at the half-mile and that was the end of it. While they were going forward, she was going backwards.

“Today she was jogging halfway. I said to the owner beside me … I said, mate he hasn’t moved. He’s got a lapful.

“She’ll go to a 1350m fillies and mares race in a fortnight. Then she’ll go to the paddock and then we’ll just concentrate on those $100 000 fillies and mares races next season, I’d say … and then into the Winter Carnival.

“Things have been going really well for me. I can have a capacity of twenty-eight in the stable. We are down to about twenty at the moment. We’ve just dropped off a little bit, but we get plenty of winners.

“The last two seasons have been fantastic. We’ve finished off with a bang and we’ll start off with one tomorrow.” (True to his word, Hall kicked off the new season with a win at Coloundra on Sunday. It came in the form of Renezma who won the third race on the card).

Jockey Michael Cahill: “Yes, I think she’s got a little bit more to give. The trainer has got a good opinion of her and it was pretty much justified today.

“She is a good filly in the making. She probably appreciates a bit of room to help her get home.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Belletrist): 12.00 out to 15.00.
Favourite (Sweepstaking): 1.90 out to 1.95. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Falvelina (L. Cassidy) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.

Get That Indya (E. Wilkinson) jumped away awkwardly and shifted in bumping Lucky Deluchi (M. Walker).

Sequaboomwa (B. El-Issa) commenced to over-race after passing the 800m and for some distance had to be restrained from the heels of Get That Indya.

Rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight Seventh Heart (C. Munce) was held up and unable to improve.

Over the concluding stages Falvelina and Seventh Heart were tightened for room by Pinpoint Accuracy (J. Byrne), which shifted in under pressure. J. Byrne the rider of Pinpoint Accuracy was advised to make a greater effort to keep his mounts on a straight course in the future.

Belletrist (M. Cahill), Seventh Heart and No Monica (J. Taylor) raced wide throughout the event.

App M. Hellyer was asked to explain the riding tactics adopted on Sweepstaking, which settled at the rear of the field and made a wide run from the 600m.

App Hellyer explained that he was instructed to ride the filly where it was comfortable and after beginning with the main body of the field he was reluctant to place Sweepstaking under pressure to hold a midfield position as he was conscious of his instructions to position the horse where it was comfortable and felt that this may also result in the filly over-racing.

App Hellyer added that he was content to settle at the rear of the field as the filly had raced similarly in the past.

App Hellyer further stated that he was obliged to make a wide run from the 600m around Belletrist as it appeared to him that that horse was not travelling well enough at that stage to take him forward into the race.

App Hellyer advised stewards that he was satisfied with the manner in which Sweeptstaking finished the race off in the home straight.

Trainer G. Heinrich confirmed the instructions to ride the horse where it was comfortable and added that it was a preference to have the filly come to the outside in the home straight so as to ensure an unimpeded run to the finish.

Stewards noted the explanation provided by App Hellyer however, advised him that it not take any direct action however, advised App Hellyer that in their view his ride did lack some judgement particularly, from the 600m where there was a clear opportunity to improve into the race with cover following the eventual winner Belletrist.

A post race veterinary examination of Get That Indya revealed the gelding was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia. Trainer S. Mackinnon will be advised that he must provide a veterinary certificate of fitness together with the results of an ECG and Get That Indya must compete in a satisfactory barrier trial before racing again.

A post race veterinary examination of No Monica revealed no significant abnormalities.

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