 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 2011
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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Smoken Up had little more than a good blow-out, running the 2700m mobile close on six seconds slower than it took Themightyquinn to beat Washakie in the Second Heat. Once Luke McCarthy parked Mr Feelgood, the others could do little more than sit and hope, and that's what they did.
The sprint home took Smoken Up 55.7 and the quarter 26, which effectively ended the contest. Villagem did hugely well to make ground for third, and Captain Peacock ran out of the pack and made the placing close. Justice left the course thinking how easy it had been. "I was waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. It would have been a pain if Auckland Reactor was in it, and that made it easier."
Justice said he had been particular in his preparation of running the horse the Auckland way. "I've given him lots of training ... the wrong way. I thought nothing would beat him the way he worked before this. Even Themightyquinn would be lucky to come home as quick as we did tonight. He's in the right frame of mind for this - both of us are. What's so special about this horse is that he doesn't know how to not try. Sokyola was the same. They just don't like other horses going past them." Justice has been home and returned. "I flew back to Adelaide on Saturday for my son Robert's wedding, and came back on Sunday."
Lisa Miles, the trainer/driver of Villagem and on her first visit to NZ, was pleased with his third. "He's not as seasoned as some, so he was always going to benefit from the race. From where he was, Lance was never going to hammer the horse."
Monkey King finished in the pack, running on late like most of the others. Ricky May didn't beat about the bushes. "I had my chance to pop out and I didn't. It was a negative drive. I knew I'd made a mistake." Trainer Benny Hill wasn't that concerned. "He's pulled up super - I'm happy."
Brent Mangos finished a place ahead - in fifth, with Franco Jamar. "I've never known a Heat to go so slow," he said.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 30Mar2011
YEAR: 2011
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Themightyquinn (outer) from Washakie(5) and Choise Achiever(1) |
The only difference to the finish in this Heat to the first one was that the Australians ran 1,2 and 4, rather than 1,2 and 3. Choise Achiever was the lone New Zealand placegetter, beaten a half-head for second. The only Australian horse to miss a first three finish was Blacks A Fake, and it so happened that he's probably run best of them all.
With Washakie running on springs in front, and Choise Achiever just as keen in behind, Blacks A Fake ran easily in the open. They were all fodder for Themightyquinn once Gary Hall jnr dropped him to the trail. They sped home in 54.6, which again gave the chasing bunch no show. The first four around the corner held their places.
"My horse was a bit fresh, because I have been easy on him, and Themightyquinn has a brilliant burst," said Luke McCarthy, the driver of Washakie. Choise Achiever looked comfortable with the big step up, running strongly in the trail and anxious to do more. "That's the first time I've used him off the gate, and he made the lead easily," said Anthony Butt.
Given the same run that won him the Auckland Cup, Themightyquinn was in his element. Hall's main occupation after finding the back of Blacks A Fake was choosing the time to set him loose. The slush from the wet track made it difficult. "I had to pull my goggles down on the corner. I couldn't see how much ground we had to make up," he said. "It's good that he's doing it in the wet, because he hasn't been that good in it at home."
Hall said it had been easier for Themightyquinn back in Perth where the opposition did not have the depth that he is facing here. "But the horse is as well as he has ever been. I couldn't be happier. He's coming through these runs so well, because he's not being used up. At home, he's in a walk-in, walk-out box, but here he goes into a paddock at 9 or 10 o'clock, and stays out till 4." Hall does not have to worry about how much grass he eats. "He's not a guts, and has room for lunch. He does manage himself very well, like all good athletes."
But Hall knows the sunny days can turn cloudy at any time. "There are a lot of variables to consider. Smoken Up, Blacks A Fake, the others, all need different trips. The barrier draw will have a lot to do with it," he said.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 30Mar2011
YEAR: 2011
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Themightyquinn(10) swamps Mr Feelgood & Monkey King(9) |
If winning came down to looks, Themightyquinn wouldn't win much. Gary Hall jnr smiles at that. "Everone can pick out Blacks A Fake and Mr Feelgood. With this guy, they just walk straight past."
If winning had something to do with presentation, manners and articulation, Gary Hall jnr would be up there with Lance Justice. Both can run up a few good quotes, and driving great horses gives them plenty of practice. They've been doing all the talking in the barn at Alexandra Park so far.
Hall was applauded after his post-race comments immediately after the race last Friday. "It will be a long week," he said. "Dad has come over, but he's said he's only come to watch." That's gone down well. Hall jnr said he was a little concerned coming into the series, saying the pressure of training the horse without his father there "was a bit of a worry. But he is a very easy horse to train, and great for letting you know when he's right."
Themightyquinn has been right for months, but never quite in the zone of fitness and contentment that he's in right now. "I don't have the words to describe how fast he is going here. I do know it's a great asset to have. From where we were, I thought we would be lucky to pick up Monkey King, so his finish did surprise me. I didn't think he could go faster than what he has, but maybe now he is. We think he's better now than what he was for the Auckland Cup, and he could be a better horse for the Final."
While the Perth people went home and slept well, those in the Monkey King camp were tossing and turning. "He's not steering right," said driver Ricky May. "He doesn't feel good on any of the corners, and it's taking too much out of him. I've got to take hold of him too keep him off the markers. "We've got some issues." May said he was well aware of the punch that Themightyquinn brings to the fight. "I know what he can do; I drove him often enough. One time, Monkey King used to have the same speed that Themightyquinn is using now."
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly 6Apr2011
YEAR: 2011
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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There is not a horse to match Smoken Up for brutal, gloves off, pound for pound slugging. Lance Justice decided at Alexandra Park last Friday night that if anyone had forgotten, it was time for a stern reminder. "I thought I'd give a message to the opposition - we're going good."
Smoken Up held out Washakie for the lead. Smiling Shard was put in the hunt, sitting parked for more than a lap and Blacks A Fake dropped back but again looked on target with another bold finish. Justice opened the throttle before the 500m and Smoken Up broke away and soon cleared out.
"He's got Sunday and Monday off, that's why I gave him this," said Justice. "He needed a good hit out. I'll have to change the bearings on the cart - they were 'smoken'. I've never had him going better. I don't think Themightyquinn could do that, going that speed, but I wouldn't like him within two or three lengths of me, so it will come down to the draw," he said. Justice said it would make people "take a breath and think what he can do".
Justice recalled that he always wanted a horse by Tinted Cloud ... "I don't know why. I looked at a few and then saw a tape of this one. I told the guys that if they wanted him, don't make an offer, pay what they want. I'd only had him three weeks when I told Adam (Hamilton) I had something special ... a horse who could be very good. The same people had Smooth Crusa, and it was soon Smooth who? But he's always had a bad hitch that I've trained him out of; but even tonight, when he got a bit crowded, you can feel it."
Smiling Shard had to front up and he did, though the Australian mountain has doubled in size with six making the cut. "He went huge," said driver Dexter Dunn. "We were all done at the quarter, but I'm rapt in the way he's kept at it. We'll need a good draw and a decent run - that's our only chance because the Australian horses are that good."
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 6Apr2011