DOOM NOV 07 - GAG ORDER COMES OUT FIGHTING

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Doomben, November 7, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 4m.
Class 6 Handicap - 1030m. Time: 59.22.
1 Gag Order; 2 Backstabber; 3 Seething Duck.

The Liam Birchley trained Gag Order resumed here with apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers claiming what would turn out to be a useful 2kg allowance in the saddle.

Speers placed Gag Order in midfield in the early apart before swinging for home in fifth position tracking four wide. At that stage the $3.70 favourite Backstabber was racing directly in front of Gag Order and when the main fancy quickened Gag Order attempted to go with him.

Backstabber resolutely ran down the front-running Power Of George to take the lead 180m out. Gag Order was still 2.50 lengths back then and chasing hard. By the 100m the deficit was down to 1.50 lengths, but it was only inside the final 50m, when Backstabber started to feel the pinch, that Gag Order really rallied late and she was able to claim the honours in the final strides to earn her fifth victory in twelve starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Liam Birchley: “She surprised me in the yard. I know what work I’ve done with her and she turned out a lot trimmer than I thought she was. There’s no doubt she’s improved physically.

“She had a strange prep last time. She struck a couple of really hard tracks and a couple of really shifty tracks where the bias was against her a bit. Obviously they are running on alright today. You know, they really ran along and when she could get a bit of room, she really finishes well.”

Apprentice jockey Mitchell Speers: “I didn’t want to fire her up too much, because she can over-race. I wanted to save a bit for later on. She settled good and hit the line well. Good win.

“She let down well when I asked her, but I wasn’t always confident I was going to get to them though. Being first-up I thought she might just die on her run, but she kept coming. She’s a bit stronger this time in.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Gag Order): 8.00 out to 9.00.
Favourite (Backstabber): 4.20 in to 3.60 out to 3.70. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Ben Hur (S. Scriven) and Gag Order (M. Speers) brushed on jumping away. Pride Of Power (B. Pengelly) and Je Ne Sais Pas (D. Craven) were caught wide on the first turn and obliged to race wide for the majority of the event.

Near the 600m, Pride Of Power (B. Pengelly) hung in momentarily tightening Falco Star (C. McIver). Embracing (A. Pattillo), which was following had to be steadied in this incident. On straightening Falco Star (C. McIver) shifted out to improve and made contact with Jad (P. Hammersley).

Close to the finish line Meet George (J. Bowditch) was cramped for room between Steel Lips and Ben Hur, which shifted out under pressure. Backstabber (B. Stewart) raced three wide without cover throughout the race. Gag Order (M. Speers) and Pride Of Power (B. Pengelly) also raced wide throughout the race.

When questioned regarding the performance of Steel Lips, L. Cassidy stated that in order to obtain a position he had to make use of the horse in the early stages and when asked for an effort on straightening Steel Lips could not accelerate under its big weight. L. Cassidy added that despite that he was not entirely disappointed with the horse's run today.

Trainer S. Ryan explained that the horse had missed a barrier trial in preparation for this campaign and felt that Steel Lips would take benefit from today's race. He added that the horse's best form has been on rain affected tracks.