INTERESTING READING
"Chuffed with The Chieftain"owned by
Dom Neate, James Tait, Jim Nivison, Alex Warner and Sinclair Munro
Punters were dealt their second consecutive blow on Rosehill Guineas day when the odds-on favourite Prince Arthur only battled into a disappointing third in the $100,000 Listed Crowne Plaza Parramatta N.E.Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill today.
Ridden by Darren Beadman, Prince Arthur was sent out at $1.40 but was under heavy pressure at the 600m and only whacked away in the straight.
”No excuses,” was all Beadman could offer after the race on the performance of the Sydney Cup favourite.
It was again a race for the outsider of the field with the Guy Walter-trained The Chieftain turning in an improved performance on his last start failure to fight back after being headed and burst into Sydney Cup calculations.
”He’ll run in the Chairmans Handicap [April 7] and then onto the Sydney Cup [April 14],” said Walter.
After being slowest to begin, The Chieftain was squeezed back to last shortly after the start but a slow speed allowed jockey Zac Purton the chance to whip around the field and settle outside the lead, Magic Instinct.
As the field entered the back straight Purton again allowed The Chieftain his head and he took over in front holding the lead until being headed by Magic Instinct with 200m to go before calling on his reserves and outstaying the Victorian galloper.
”It was a good performance,” Walter said. ”He showed so much fight. ”The ride won the race. ”He wouldn’t settle early but Zac summed up the situation and took him to the front.”
The performance of Magic Instinct was an improvement on his last start failure at Randwick but he threw the race away by wanting to lay in down the straight.
”I don’t think Magic Instinct was too keen on running away from me,” was how Purton summed up Magic Instinct’s final 200m.
The Chieftain 53.5kg ($26) (Z.Purton) defeated Magic Instinct 54kg ($5) (C.Newitt) by a long head with Prince Arthur 57kg ($1.40) (D.Beadman) a further two lengths back in third.
The 2400m was run in 2.30.59 with a final 600m was covered in 36.42.
By: Clinton Payne - Saturday, March 24, 2007