THE ITALIAN JOB (Race #4)

Thursday 9th December 2004

Opunake J.C. (at New Plymouth)

Track: 2.0 (Firm)

 

Race 5 IPLEX PIPELINES 3YO MAIDEN - 1400m

Stake: $5,000 (12 ran)

Winning Time: 1:23.37
Pos No. Fav Horse Wgt Carried Jockey Dec Trad
1 9  2/2  Penny Florence  54.50  54.50 David Walker   2 1/2 L
2 1  1/1  Saigon  56.00  56.00 Robert Hannam 2.50 1 3/4 L
3 3  3/3  Dumbarton  56.00  56.00 Tony Allan 4.30 1 1/4 L
4 4  8/8  Garrod  56.00  56.00 Cameron Lammas (A) 5.60 1 1/2 L
5 10  10/10  Loanly  54.50  54.50 Paul Taylor 7.10  1 1/4 L
6 8  4/4  Vincent  56.00  56.00 Lisa Cropp 8.40  Nose
7 7  12/12  Phantom Peak  56.00  56.00 Tracy Collis 8.50 1 3/4 L
8 6  7/9  Off The Stick  56.00  54.00 Matthew Cameron (A) 10.30  3/4 L
9 15  9/7  To The Manor  54.50  52.50 Claire Anderson (A) 11.10  1/2 L
10 12  6/6  It's Only Me  54.50  54.50 Jade Rogers 11.60  Head
11 5  11/11  Hurricane Boxer  56.00  56.00 Thomas Russell 11.80  2 L
12 11  5/5  The Italian Job  54.50  54.50 Noel Harris 13.80  
Scratched: Pamito, Kashden, Stravigent, Sakura Cluden 

1 PENNY FLORENCE 3 f Pentire - Neo Classic

2 SAIGON 3 c Mellifont - Indigo Girl

3 DUMBARTON 3 g Dansinga - Fleur Dansant

Winning Trainer: Warren Bolton, New Plymouth

Winning Owner: Mrs C & W L Bolton

   

     TAB Dividends

Bet Horse Dividend
Win PENNY FLORENCE $ 6.00
Place 1st PENNY FLORENCE $ 1.95
Place 2nd SAIGON $ 1.45
Place 3rd DUMBARTON $ 2.20
Quinella PENNY FLORENCE, SAIGON $ 9.50
Trifecta PENNY FLORENCE, SAIGON, DUMBARTON $ 83.40
  THE ITALIAN JOB (12th) Win: $9.80  Place: $3.90

Reports

Stipendiary Steward's Report 

Stewards: K Hawea, B Bateup & N Goodwin

 
Race Five: Over the concluding stages of the event THE ITALIAN JOB (N Harris) clipped the heels of OFF THE STICK (M Cameron) when that runner shifted in when weakening. Both riders were questioned and Jockey Harris indicated that his horse may have contributed to the incident through it racing greenly. M Cameron was advised to show better judgment in further when the horse is under pressure.

     

Race Reports

Albert: 

 

It was good the get Noel Harris on Twiggy on Thursday to get a line on her. Noel remembered her dam (mother) and so knew the family.

She was grumpy before the race which is usually a good sign with her and she looked great. Noel said that when he got around to the start she wanted to head back to the stabling area and just didn't want to be there.

She jumped well, but didn't want to press on and Noel said that when the gaps opened, he had plenty of horse underneath him to go through them, but she just didn't want to do it. He said that she is just a bit immature in the mind and needs a break, but not to worry, she has the ability, feels very good and the mother, who was also a grumpy barrier rogue didn't mature until she was four. 

Heather has said that her work leading up to the race was very good and she said to me before the race, that if she didn't perform it would be because of her head as on her work she should go close.

We will give her a break now and bring her back for the Autumn. Her mind will enjoy the freshen up and we will see a nice filly once she focuses her energy.

Women!

Mike (view from the box):

The day began with the hope that Noel Harris was going to teach our girl how to race and finish in the frame. Based on her second race performance and with the knowledge that Mr Harris was going to be told to make her competitive this would make her a serious contender in a very open race.

With the Aussie races starting later, we were treated to a good 10 minutes of race introduction, unfortunately someone decided to stand in front of the camera whilst she was being led by Heather in the birdcage. They then missed her going down to the start and then having made her way behind the stalls, Trackside displayed the TAB prices on screen, so the first time we were able to see her clearly was without her jockey and being encouraged by seven (7) handlers to take her place in the starting line up. She did not show any reaction to their pushes and slowly moved into her stall where Noel was waiting.

Yet again she jumped out well and although about 7th or 8th of the field she was allowed to drop back to join her stablemate at the tail of the field...the first part of what we thought were the instructions had not been heeded. At the 600m sign she moved upsides the 10th horse and we all moved to the edge of our seats, as they entered the straight Noel gave her three cracks with the whip, she again showed no reaction either in distain for the whip or in quickening her pace to reel in those in front. Less than 100m later she clipped the heels of a weakening horse and I'm sure we all took a gasp as we thought she was sure to fall, but she gathered her feet and trailed in to be last. 

Having seen her second race she obviously has ability, has she learnt how to "dog-it" ?  possibly. She was certainly on her toes before the race, maybe she's a sulker, I've had them before and if they are not in the race they don't want to know.  She did appear to look around a little in the straight, this could be greenness or a lack of concentration in the case of the later blinkers would help. It's interesting that she doesn't flick her tail when given the whip, if she was a sulker I'm sure she would have shown a reaction. I'm sure our reaction was disappointment!

Where to from here ? Lets be honest the Oaks is not even worth considering based on her form and the fact that she has not even run over a 1600m yet. She has too get in the frame first before we can consider bigger targets, maybe she needs a break. Having spoken to Wind Flower's owner/trainer on Saturday afternoon the mother had taken time to understand racing.. like mother like daughter.. maybe. 

Summary: Held Back, Never Near, Last
Raceform Magazine Comment: 2nd Last Wide, Bad Check 100m

          

THE ITALIAN JOB (RACE #4)