DOOM AUG 14 - TAKE A BOW SIR KINGSFORD

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Doomben, August 14, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - out 2m. Penetrometer - 5.3.
Open Handicap - 2200m.
Time: 2-16.65. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Sir Kingsford; 2 Walpersdorf; 3 Go Cart.

The Len Bryant trained Sir Kingsford is a tough as teak chestnut who simply does not know how to concede defeat.

The eight-year-old looked to be a beaten horse when Walpensdorf surged up alongside him inside the final 200m of the opening event at Doomben on Saturday, but Sir Kingsford’s ‘street-fighter’ sense kicked in and he kept on throwing enough punches to earn a points decision in a cut-and-thrust, head-bobbing duel to the line where the Bryant trained runner prevailed by a short-half-head margin.

Bryant was left in obvious awe of the constitution of his runner, both in terms of the character he shows on the track and also the commitment he has shown in overcoming a host of problems while away from the action.

“I’ve never ever said all the things he’s had wrong with him,” Bryant said. “He just gets over them all and just keeps coming back.”

It does help of course when you have a rider just as committed to the cause as the runner. Chris Munce, who is riding at the top of his game at the moment, fits into that category and his skill and strength perfectly complimented Sir Kingsford’s focus to produce a fine result.

You could throw a blanket over the seven runners as they raced in close order for the first three-quarters of the 2200m journey. It was only in the final sweep to the home turn that the race began in earnest, but there was still only a little over three lengths from first to last as the field turned for home.

As more speed came into play at the top of the straight Yield Curve (two wide), Sir Kingsford (three wide) and Walpersdorf (four wide) slipped away from the balance of the field, quickly turning it into a race in three.

Three became two Yield Curve weakened 150m out. Centre stage then belonged to Sir Kingsford and Walpersdorf and both runners gave their all in a spirited stride-for stride battle for the honours.

Sir Kingsford is now an eight-time winner from twenty-nine starts. The $32 000 first prize took his stake-earnings past the $200 000 mark.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Len Bryant: “He is a tough old bugger. He just doesn’t give up, does he?

“I thought they had him again today. I just said to them (the owners) up there, if he doesn’t win another race, don’t complain … because he just does it on bloody raw courage.

“He just doesn’t lay down. It’s remarkable. He’s won four in Brisbane now and he’s probably only got enough ability to be entitled to win one, but he just does it on sheer guts and heart.

“I don’t think his whole winning margin would be any more than a neck out of the four races. He finds a way to get there.

“He is a great old horse. His injuries … I’ve never ever said all the things he’s had wrong with him … he just gets over them all and just keeps coming back. That’s how tough he is.”

Jockey Chris Munce: “He is a tough old boy. Before I started riding him he used to miss the start quite badly. He’s been very good for me. He’s jumped pretty well everytime I’ve ridden him. That probably helps a little bit, but what he lacks in ability he makes up for in heart.

“The other horse (Walpersdorf) did head me. He probably got a good half-length in front of me, I thought … a good neck to a half-length in front of me.

“My bloke just tried his heart out and credit to him for winning.”

“I was pleasantly surprised with the track. It felt good to my old bloke underfoot. He enjoyed a bit of a jar out of the track. I think it is a pretty fair surface and everybody has got their chance today for sure.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Sir Kingsford): 2.70 out to 2.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Yield Curve (G. Colless) raced wide during the early stages.

Near the 1000m Sir Kingsford (C. Munce) shifted out slightly, forcing Malandrina (J. Wood) wider on the track. Malandrina was obliged to race wide for the remainder of the event.

Near the 450m Sir Kingsford shifted out around the heels of Yield Curve and in doing so took Malandrina out on to Walpersdorf (J. Taylor), which became unbalanced.

Apprentice J. Wood was fined $100 under AR. 137A(5)(a)(ii) for using the whip in a forehand manner in excess of 5 times on Malandrina prior to the 100m.

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