Ten nominations. Eight first acceptors. Six scratchings. Two runners.
That was the sorry take of the two-horse race which kicked off the meeting at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Up for grabs was a first prize of $22 000 with prize-money due to be paid out down to tenth place.
And connections often argue that prize-money needs to be increased!
In fairness, a mitigating factor would be that a 2400m Maiden race would only target a relatively small sample of runners … but a field of two runners doesn’t really cut it, both in terms of the look it gives and in terms of its impact on betting turnover, the life blood of the industry.
For the record the race was won by the Marcus Wilson trained Obstructionist who had finished in second place in three of his last four starts. The son of Savabeel beat led from start to finish to win as he liked.
The lead-up run for both of these runners going into this race came at the Sunshine Coast two weeks ago where Obstructionist beat Kalamia King by five lengths at level weights over 2200m. The result went the same way here by another comfortable margin.
Danny Peasley did the honours aboard Obstructionist while Luke Dempsey partnered Kalamia King into second place, which was effectively Kalamia King’s best result in his seven-race career to date.
Nether runner is likely to find an easier payday.
