 Gary White Today
he repeated the exercise, using transport arrangements perfected in
August when flying Tempest Tost from Hobart the day before the race. "It
cost us $4,400 this time because we couldn't share a pallet", White
explained, but winning owner Geoff Harper was not complaining. The
tough filly fought her way through a fierce headwind and driving rain
at Flemington to win the Qenos Handicap despite carrying top weight of
58kg.Ridden
by Darren Gauci, Tempest Tost ($3.50-$4.60) hit the front a fair way
out in the 1000m race. She was entitled to falter first up with her
weight and the track and weather conditions against her, but despite a
challenge from La Bella Roo ($3.50-$4.60-$4.40F), Tempest Tost hung on
gamely to win by three quarters of a length.   Our Lona ($6.50-$9.00) ran on fairly for third, 1¾ lengths away.
"My biggest concern was the big weight and the head winds", said White after the race. White
had also hoped to have Tempest Tost ridden off the pace as she was at
Caulfield, but Darren Gauci found himself in front when nothing else
wanted to lead. "Russell
Neville who rides her at home told me that when she gets to the front
she sits and waits and that was his biggest concern." "He said if we can get a bit of a sit and be able to chase rather than be the one chased it will be different." Th
Statue Of Liberty filly was smart enough however to control the race
from the front and when La Bella Roo put in her challenge, Tempest Tost
found plenty to keep her at bay, even though Gauci said "she was
running on empty" at the end. Tempest
Tost has not raced since she finished a close up sixth behind Taameer
at Moonee Valley in the Crockett Stakes last August. She sustained a ligament injury during that race and pulled up lame in the right knee. White explained that modern veterinary techniques were used to treat the injury.
"They
take blood from the horse and then they take the protein out of the
plasma and inject it back into the horse's knee", he explained. "It improves the integrity of the cartilage and its a great invention." "Her half brother Tullamarine, I think he's had similar problems and he won on Wednesday." Tasmanian
trained Tempest Tost is likely to be the first runner from that state
in the Magic Millions feature race day on January 10th.She is slated to run in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy for three year olds. Photos: Fiona Tomlin
© Cyberhorse 2009 Bill Saunders Published 13/12/08
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