SCST OCT 04 - WARRIOR WITHIN STARTING TO HIT HIS STRAPS

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Sunshine Coast, October 4, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 4m.
Class 3 Handicap - 1600m. Time: 1-39.12.
1 Warrior Within; 2 Viking Storm; 3 Red Shadow.

Three runners ... three winners. That was the scorecard of trainer Bruce Hill at the Coloundra meeting.

After earlier successes with Brigadoon Champ and Lucky Deluchi, Hill completed a full house on the day when Warrior Within proved to be good enough to land his second successive victory. The gelding won over 1700m at Ipswich in his previous start.

Jockey Paul Hammersley partnered all three of the Hill trained winners. Watch out for this ‘Double H’ brand. It is starting to travel really well.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Bruce Hill: “I’ve always had a lot of time for him, but I just haven’t been able to get things right. He’s always shown me a lot, but I haven’t been able to get him quite right. We’ve got him right now. The mile wasn’t a problem. He should get further actually.

“He’s racing good. Earlier on ... a few runs ago ... he was wanting to pull and hang and do everything wrong. But his last three runs have been really good.”

Jockey Paul Hammersley: “He had a few problems ... not physically, but just with his racing manners early. We are starting to figure those out now and he is settling in his races pretty good. He looks to be a nice horse over a mile.

“Yeah I was still pretty worried when the other one was such a long way in front. I was trapped behind a slow one at the half mile and I was a bit worried, so I got going early. I was lucky the leader stopped quick and I was able to pick it up. Once I got to the furlong I knew I was going to win and the horse kept going to the line pretty well. He might even get over 1800m, you know.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Warrior Within): 2.00 out to 2.15.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Mulga Bob (R. Mason) and Bang On Broadway (J. Taylor) began awkwardly. Amaizemea (A. Spinks) was slow to begin. Near the 500m, Warrior Within (P. Hammersley) shifted out to improve and in doing so forced Bang On Broadway (J. Taylor) wider on the track. S. Katsidis, rider of Viking Storm, dropped his whip near the 400m. Near the 100m, Warrior Within (P. Hammersley) shifted in under pressure and brushed Viking Storm.

When asked to explain the performance of Many Talents, K. Pope stated that he was able to obtain a more forward position today and travelled well to the 800m, however when the pace quickened leaving that point the horse failed to respond to his riding and proved disappointing. K. Pope added that the gelding had a tendency to lay out rounding the home turn and in the straight, resulting in him having to pull the whip through in an endeavour to straighten his mount. A post-race veterinary examination of Many Talents failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

When questioned regarding the riding tactics adopted on Red Shadow, S. Kennedy stated that her instructions were to roll forward and to keep the horse travelling as it has a tendency to pull in its races. Trainer R. Wilson confirmed the instructions adding that the horse had raced in a similar manner in previous races and was of the opinion that this was the best way to ride the horse. Stewards noted the explanation.

A post-race veterinary examination of Bang On Broadway revealed the gelding to be lame in the near-foreleg and near-fore knee. Trainer A. Swindley was advised that he must provide a veterinary clearance for Bang On Broadway prior to its next race start.