DOOM AUG 14 - RIGHTSON ON THE MARK THIS TIME

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Doomben, August 14, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - out 2m. Penetrometer - 5.3.
Open Handicap - 1615m.
Time: 1-38.92. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Rightson; 2 Fulmonti; 3 Intertheblack.

A nose and a short-half-head! Those were the margins of defeat for the Barry Baldwin trained Rightson in his two runs prior to facing the starter here.

Those narrow defeats (when downed twice by the Kelso Wood trained Anyways) came in energy sapping, hard-fought finishes and the combination of those tough efforts and the fact that Rightson was heading out for his tenth start this prep did put a slight question mark about whether the eight-year-old could go on with it here … but those looking to get their money back on Rightson didn’t have much to worry about once the field turned into the home straight.

Prior to that Rebounded had looked likely to take up the running from the break, but his jockey Mandy Radecker elected to give way to Little Britain and Rightson, who both punched across the field from their outside barrier positions.

Once in front Little Britain’s jockey Jason Taylor slowed the speed markedly as the field entered the back straight. That change of tempo prompted Michael Cahill, who was clearly unhappy with the pace, to push forward on Deacon to assume control at the head of affairs.

The pace remained muddling as Deacon led under a fair hold all the way through the sweep to the turn. Jockey Jim Byrne had slipped Rightson up into second place soon after Deacon had taken the lead and he had the frontrunner firmly in his sights as they approached the home turn.

Although Cahill had attempted to rate Deacon well enough to save his mount for the sprint home, it quickly became apparent on straightening that the front-running role, which was contrary to Deacon’s normal pattern of racing, had taken the gelding out of his comfort zone and he was not really in the mood for a fight when Rightson moved up smoothly alongside him early in the straight.

Deacon did kick on briefly, but Rightson had his measure coming through the 200m mark and the latter kicked on strongly to claim a clear-cut and well deserved victory.

Fulmonti, who turned for home in second last place, did rattle home from behind to get within a half-length of the winner, but, at no stage was Rightson in danger of defeat once he had taken the lead away from Deacon.

Intertheblack and In Rehearsal finished just under three lengths behind Rightson in third and fourth place respectively. Little Britain was fifth. Deacon weakened to finish sixth.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Barry Baldwin: “He’s been very unlucky and as I said to Kelso, mate thank goodness you weren’t in the race today.” (Rightson had been touched off by the Kelso Wood trained Anyways in his two previous starts).

“He’s been honest and he’s been racing in, I think the form student’s say, his personal best ever. So, it’s great to see. Full credit to the horse … and a good ride from Jimmy today. I think the way the race was run just worked out perfectly for him.

“It’s strange. The only other mile race he’s won he actually beat Fulmonti. So there is a pattern with this horse. He either gets beaten by the same one or he beats the same one.

“Yes he has been up a while, but when you are getting old mate, you can’t stop for a rest. You’ve got to keep going. That’s the horse I’m talking about.”

Jockey Jim Byrne: “When Mandy’s horse (Rebounded) conceded the lead I thought well, you know, it’s going to be a very slow run race.

“I thought then that I’d probably move forward at the half-mile and make sure that I was right with the leader (Deacon) on straightening.

“As it turned out we ran home in a sub-35, so it was a good effort.

“That time showed that the track wasn’t too bad at all. Doomben has always been a very good surface. The amount of rain we had last week, you would be forgiven if you thought we’d have a slow track and not get better all day, but it is a really good racing surface. The track’s doing really well.

“It was a pleasure to win for Baz (Barry Baldwin). I call Baz my boss. He’s taken care of me for a long, long time. Trust me, he has really taken care of me. I can’t say enough about him.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Rightson): 3.00 out to 3.20. Equal favourite.
Equal favourite (Deacon): 3.00 out to 3.20. Finished sixth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Intertheblack (B. Stewart) over-raced in the early and middle stages. Rebounded (M. Radecker) over-raced in the middle stages.

Stewards questioned M. Radecker in regards to the tactics she employed on Rebounded today, in particular the reasons she allowed Little Britain (J. Taylor) to cross her prior to turning into the back straight and in respect to the vigour she exhibited on Rebounded rounding the home turn and until a point near the 200m.

M. Radecker stated that after riding Rebounded aggressively to obtain the lead in the early stages, she felt it would be best to allow Little Britain to take the lead and get cover as this is how Rebounded has been ridden at its two most recent starts.

M. Radecker further added that Rebounded then commenced to over-race at the heels of Little Britain, and the slow mid-race tempo disadvantaged Rebounded considerably.

M. Radecker added that whilst it appeared she had not exhibited a significant amount of vigour rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the straight, she advised stewards that this is consistent with the way she had ridden Rebounded in the past as the horse, in her opinion, does not respond positively to vigorous whip riding.

She added that in hindsight she would have retained the lead and held Little Britain out considering the mid-race tempo that eventuated.

Stewards agreed with jockey Radecker that it would have been a better option to hold the lead in the early stages, at least until a point into the back straight, and advised her that they were not completely satisfied with her vigour on the horse rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight, however were not satisfied that her riding had breached any rule of racing.

Stewards sought an explanation from M. Cahill in respect to the performance of Deacon today.

M. Cahill stated that he was obliged to race wide in the early stages and then elected to push forward when the pace slowed to take the position in the lead near the 1200m. He added that this was uncustomary for Deacon and felt that it may have had an effect on the horse's capacity to finish the race off.

M. Cahill further stated that Deacon was dropping back in distance and backing up from its last run a week ago which may have contributed to the horse's disappointing performance. His explanation was noted.

A post-race veterinary examination of Deacon revealed no abnormalities.

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