Pain And Gain For Man, Beast

Sun Herald

Sunday December 21, 2008

Max Presnell

WHEN Kerrin McEvoy was hurled forward from Hasta Pronto in a false start and barrier attendant Brett Gordon clung to the reins of the youngster as if his life depended on it, the odds favoured man coming out of the royal.randwick.com Handicap at Royal Randwick yesterday with more pain than the horse.

But in winning Jim Cassidy hit the two-year-old Foreign News, having his first start, no fewer than 15 times to get him home ahead of Shellscrape.

"Cassidy won't be riding him with that windmill style when the new whip rule comes in," said Ray Murrihy, the Racing NSW chief steward.

Strokes with the whip will be restricted, particularly on youngsters.

Murrihy believes it is either change the traditional application that served greats such as Darby Munro and Mick Dittman well, via restrictions or public opinion will have the whip barred from racing.

"Mind you, I didn't take exception to Cassidy's ride today - it's just that Dan Nikolic on the runner-up was just as good," he explained. "Had Cassidy handled him in a similar fashion, and not used the whip much, I think he still would have won."

Funny, when Shellscrape moved up with 150 metres to go, he looked certain to score, and then Cassidy started to pump and thump (forgive the severe description) and Foreign News came again to score by a half-neck. Cassidy figures there were contributing factors to the result but a strike on shoulder made his mount stretch his neck out and get to the line when it counted.

On the subject of the upcoming changes, Cassidy commented: "They can take the whip off me, but I while I can pump I can ride winners. When I can't, I'll get another job."

Still, the start had more drama than the finish. The barrier mishap was mechanical, not man-made. A water-logged lead opened the gates twice prematurely. During one despatch, McEvoy speared off as Gordon, on the stalls with the two-year-old, clung desperately to contain Hasta Pronto, running and being dragged along with him for a few strides. All is a day's work for about $170 for these unsung heroes. Gunner Knox and Toyhero also came out due to the problem but all were deemed fit to start.

"That's McEvoy's luckiest Christmas present," Murrihy declared after viewing the video. "Jockeys curl up like a ball when they come off and it was fortunate he didn't put his head up."

Obviously slashing hooves could have taken a severe toll. As it turned out, McEvoy gave his mount a good passage and he ended up third.

The jockey had a better result and easier time on stablemate Country Club, also trained by Peter Snowden, in the Inglis Sydney Classic.

The exhibition was very pleasing to Murrihy and favourite backers because Country Club, from the rails gate, had so much on her opposition McEvoy could afford to be gentle, with no hint of the persuader.

Later McEvoy had another misfortune at the start when he lost a iron on Spinney in the Villiers. Spinney got back in a slowly run race, ending up 13th. But with Country Club, he and Snowden have a prime Golden Slipper candidate.

Hasta Pronto? "That's the worst thing that can happen to a two-year-old," Snowden said. "Bad habits are hard to shake. First experiences are lasting ones."

© 2008 Sun Herald

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