Jockey Larry Cassidy’s tactics aboard Beeby Gem were quizzed in a stewards’ room sequel to the last-to-first win of Keep It Moist at Doomben on Saturday.
Beeby Gem led by five lengths at the 400-metre mark in the Goulburn Valley Handicap (1350m) before weakening to finish second last to Keep It Moist who was backed from $5.50 into $4.40.
Keep It Moist, Ric McMahon - Photo by Daniel Costello
Chief steward Wade Birch told Cassidy it wasn’t unexpected for Beeby Gem to lead but asked him whether he intended to be five lengths in front of the nearest runner in the middle stages.
Cassidy said trainer Helen Page instructed him to lead “by three, four, or five lengths”.
“Mrs Page said to me `she’s very one-dimensional, it’s not going to be pretty but that’s the way you’re going to have to do it’,” Cassidy told stewards.
“I knew I was going too quick and obviously we had to get tired and me roaring at her soon after the start to get her going probably fired her up a bit.”
Page was asked by stewards what instructions she gave to Cassidy before the race.
“I told him she had to be ridden in an unusual way because she has to lead by four or five lengths,” Page said.
“It doesn’t look pretty and she overdid it because she was a bit fresh today not having raced for a few weeks.”
The explanations of Cassidy and Page were accepted.
While Beeby Gem was fading out of contention in the straight, Keep It Moist stormed home from last.
Jockey Ric McMahon didn’t panic when Keep It Moist was slow to jump and struck minor interference in the first 100 metres of the race.
“He was a bit fidgety in the gates then Larry’s horse shaved him a bit and I had to come back a length or so,” he said.
“It would’ve been suicidal to go forward after that so I let him relax and they went along at a breakneck speed which helped.”
Despite being last approaching the home turn, McMahon was confident Keep It Moist was travelling well enough to win.
