Stipendiary Steward's Report 

Stewards: J P Oatham, N Goodwin, B Bateup

Horses Swabbed: Roulette
Bleeders: Nil.
Barrier Blankets: Roulette
 
Race Two: 

L McGregor had been declared on race morning as a rider for the balloted runner FLIWAY. Prior to the first race L McGregor phoned the stewards advising she had only just become aware of this mount and was unable to be on course in time. K Myers was then notified as the replacement rider. Due to the heavy track conditions, the connections of GET BLONDE, J Rogers, were granted permission to remove the pacifiers from this runner. REDSIAN (K Smith) began awkwardly. AVERY NIGHSOURCE (J Parkes) was a little slow at the start. Near the 1100 metres FOUR SWORDS (P Taylor) who was a first starter, over-reacted when its position became a little tight and shifted outwards abruptly hampering MOON BRIDE (V Johnston). Near the 200 metres MOON BRIDE, who was finishing quickly, made contact with FOUR SWORDS. Also near the 200 metres KALGOORLIE BOMBER (M Barnsley), who was running on strongly, shifted outwards when struck with the whip and inconvenienced the weakening AVERY NIGHSOURCE. The favourite BEN HOGAN (B Herd) disputed the pace early, led early in the final straight, but was run down over the concluding stages to finish fifth. B Herd stated that the horse had become a little bogged down over the final stages on the inside of the track.

Race Reports

Albert: 

A very good fresh up run from Twiggy on Saturday. From the outside draw she jumped well and Ronald had to decide whether to press on and get handy or drop her out the back and let her get relaxed. He decided on the second option and dropped her back to second last, but kept he wider on the track to keep up her momentum.

She got a bump as she improved at the 800 metres, but kept moving and once he let her balance up in the straight she came home really well for 6th beaten just over 3 1/2 lengths, but making up a huge amount of ground over the last 600 metres.

Ronald said she handled the track no problem and he felt she would have been right in the finish if she had drawn well and been able to settle closer to them. We will step her up to 1600 metres next start which should suit her. Her mother, a group 3 winner didn't win until she was four and then her best distances were from 2000 to 2400 metres, a family trait which Twiggy seems to have inherited.

Thanks to a false start at the Ashburton trots, the cameras were switched to our race as the horses were gathered at the start. Fortunately there was just enough time to spot Twiggy before she was led away to be loaded early, (apparently she needed a push to get her in but she was calm once in). 

It was interesting watching her price drop from $34 (win) & $7.80 (place) to $26.50 & 5.90 once she had been installed in her wide berth, this did creep back to $28 & $6.40 at the off. 

She broke well as the stalls opened but was kept wide thanks to the horse on her inside keeping pace with her. As they came round the bend she appeared to move forward but again due to her position when the entered the straight she was still in the last two as she had come the long way. She quickened well in the heavy conditions but with this being only the second race there was possibly no major advantage across the track, the heavy track would have hindered some where as she's bred for further and would have preferred a test of stamina more that others in the race. She closed to finish sixth and although with my 20-20 hindsight I would have preferred her to have been on the inside, the fact that she was relaxed throughout the race (possibly as she was kept racing rather than pulled to the back to get inside) was good to see. I'm sure that we are all pleased that she finished well and that although Felix The Cat's are not know for handling softer ground she did not seem too inconvenienced by the going.  

Summary: Kept wide, relaxed, progress from the back in the straight, promising.