FLEM AUG 07 - FLEMINGTON STRAIGHT AGREES WITH WHISTON

By Taron Clarke | Monday, August 9, 2010

Flemington, August 7, 2010.
Track - Slow 7. Rail - out 9.0m.
Open Rating 0-89 - 1000m.
Time: 58.97. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Whiston; 2 Devils Force; 3 Two Hills.

Jockey of the moment Jake Noonan brought up the second leg of a winning treble on board Whiston for his father, Mornington trainer Tony Noonan. Incidentally it was the first leg of a winning double for Noonan senior who went on to train Belscenica to win the final event on the card who was also ridden by son Jake. Whiston and Belscenica, who are both progeny of ill-fated sire Scenic, are owned by similar interests who include John Thatcher and Vern Jones.

Whiston has had a successful campaign since resuming from a spell in February with four wins from seven starts including two down the Flemington straight. It was Jake Noonan’s first victory aboard the Scenic gelding, who has a distinct liking for rain affected ground after being plagued most of his career by bad feet.

From the thousand metre start the field jumped away as one with the exception of the favourite Perturbo, who was slightly crowded between the runners either side of him, namely Kenny Kid and Ferocia. Whiston was allowed to amble out of the gates and find his feet towards the rear of the field as noted speedster Galbraith began like an exocet missile from barrier four.

After racing two hundred metres it was clear that the entire field had the intention of racing down the flat side. It was Galbraith who led out by two lengths over Braided General. Content to race down the crown of the track five and six off the fence were Two Hills and Devils Force.

Whiston and apprentice Jake Noonan were forced to race back in the field behind the bulk of the field, but within eight lengths of the leader. The favourite Perturbo, who was ridden by Ben Melham, was second last ten lengths off the leader as the field raced on to the course proper at the five hundred metre mark.

Galbraith held a commanding lead and increased it ever so slightly to three lengths inside the four hundred metre mark when Rodd asked for an effort. The horse that had done the chasing Braided General was hard ridden, but was responding to the urgings of Dale Smith.

With Galbraith showing a clean pair of heels, this had allowed the bulk of the field to open up and give the backmarkers plenty of room to find runs. Down the centre of the track Two Hills and Devils Force were being asked for the supreme effort to chase down the leader.

Whiston was able to track the Luke Oliver trained Don’t Tell Pat through the bulk of the pack and when the opportunity came Noonan made the crucial decision to switch back the inside and let down with his run. Out wide on the track Devils Force for jockey Glen Boss looked certain to be in the finish after joining in with a well-timed run.

At the two hundred metres, the early speed shown by Galbraith was starting to tell as he was gobbled up by Braided General and out wide on the track was Devils Force who was chiming in with his run.

Whiston had run up behind Galbraith, but Noonan was able to angle for a run between the heels of Galbraith and that of Braided General in order to present his runner with a trouble free run to the line.

Braided General had only been in front for one hundred metres before Devils Force on his outside challenged strongly and to his immediate inside was Whiston. Devils Force hit the front at the hundred, but it was only momentarily as Whiston, who had weaved through the field raced straight along the fence to get up in the shadows of the post to score by a neck from Devils Force and a further length back to Two Hills.

Favourite Perturbo never looked likely after settling in a rearward position throughout. Perturbo managed to race past a few tiring runners in the straight to wind up in eighth position some four lengths from the winner.

The horse is trained by Colin and Cindy Alderson at Cranbourne which has received large amounts of rain in the recent months and this may be a contributing factor to his performance. It may be race fitness that helps see Perturbo get back to his best.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Tony Noonan: “They (the owners) have been with me a long time. We go back to Piavonic days so it’s a fair while back and John and Vern have bred some really nice horses and this is another one and he’s done a super job. I think this is about his seventh or eighth run this preparation and he’s stood up well and he is racing in great heart.

“He hasn’t got the best of feet and they’ve been a constant worry and my farrier has done a tremendous job with him because we’ve had to space his runs most of the time because he’s been in pain, so he’s done a super job getting this horses feet right and the give in the ground certainly makes the task easier.

“It was a really good ride and his confidence is sky high at the moment … but I said to him just hold him up. He’s got a good short sharp sprint and he rode him a treat.”

Jockey Jake Noonan: “That’s a bit my style. I like to ride with a bit of patience and I think that’s the way you’ve got to ride him.

“Ben Melham did it perfectly two starts back when he just waited and waited. Me and dad spoke before the race and it was always going to pan out that way from that gate.

“We were always need a bit of luck, but I just wanted to use that in my favour. I knew if he did get held up he should show a turn of foot, but we were just lucky. I had to keep my eyes open in all directions and just hope for the runs.

“It panned out perfectly. The gaps that I was taking .. horses were dropping off at the right time … so I had a bit of luck and I was lucky enough to choose the right runs.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Whiston): 7.50 out to 8.00.
Favourite (Perturbo): 5.00 out to 5.00 into 4.60. Finished eighth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Le Grand Ace jumped awkwardly shifted out and bumped Bondarchuk (NZ). Shortly after the start Perturbo was crowded for room between Ferocia and Kenny Kid which shifted out.

Bondarchuk (NZ) had some difficulty in obtaining a clear run inside the 400m.

Post-race veterinary examinations of Perturbo and Encosta Belief both failed to reveal any abnormalities.

A post-race veterinary examination of Galbraith revealed that the gelding had soreness in front and had lost its near-fore plate. Trainer Mr P Healey was advised a veterinary certificate of fitness is required prior Galbraith racing again.

After the running of the race the Club’s veterinary surgeon reported that Plumbago had swelling to its near side abdomen and trainer Mr B Charry was advised a veterinary certificate of fitness is required prior to Plumbago racing again.

More articles