The Desleigh Forster-trained Easy Running won the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm on the race track but lost it in the stewards room to Biggles today.
Easy Running, despite being caught three wide without cover throughout, surged at the 300m but severely impeded Biggles who made a run on its inside near the 170m mark.
Apprentice Tim Bell aboard Biggles was within a half length of Easy Running at that point but lost two lengths before cutting the margin down to a length on the line.
Bell lodged a protest alleging interference leaving the 200m.
“I had established clear running and was into a run when Damian Browne on Easy Running shifted in two horses,” Bell said.
“I had to check and it cost me between two and two and a half lengths.
“I’m adamant the interference cost me the race.”
Stewards agreed and amended the placings.
Show A Prince, Spinhro and Hollyweird all ran on well from the back in the final 200m as early leader Rocket To Glory faded.
Biggles, a $160,000 purchase, won his fourth race in eight starts and has now amassed $250,000 in earnings.
The Noel Doyle-trained gelding has now won both starts after a 15 week spell, the previous in the Hardy Brothers Jewellers (1000m) at Eagle Farm on December 3.
Doyle is targeting the $1m Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
“It was an enormous run and I was always confident he’d get the protest decision,” Doyle said.
“He’ll have one more run in the Vo Rogue then go on to the Magic Millions.
“He’s a very good horse and I think there’s a real big race in him somewhere.”
Forster may get revenge with Easy Running in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben in a fortnight.
“He’s a nice little horse who had to cover some extra ground today,” Forster said.
“Once he got to the outside I said to his owners he’d win.
“Unfortunately we lost on protest in the stewards’ room and I accept it
“We’ll get our chance next time.”
In eight days Forster experienced the highs and lows of racing.
She won the Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes at Doomben with Adebisi last week.
Browne pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was suspended for 12 meetings to commence midnight on Saturday, 24 December and expire at midnight on Sunday, 8 January 2012.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | BIGGLES | Noel J Doyle | Timothy Bell (a) | 3 | 56kg | $6 | |
| 2 | 6 | EASY RUNNING | Desleigh Forster | Damian Browne | 1L | 17 | 56kg | $5.50 |
| 3 | 5 | SHOW A PRINCE | Liam Birchley | Glen Colless | 1.3L | 5 | 56kg | $9 |
| 4 | 12 | SPINHRO | Norm Stephens | Matthew Gray | 1.5L | 1 | 56kg | $51 |
| 5 | 1 | ROCKET TO GLORY | John Manzelmann | Chris Whiteley | 1.8L | 13 | 56kg | $10 |
| 6 | 16 | HOLLYWEIRD | Trevor Bailey | Jim Byrne | 2.5L | 7 | 54kg | $13 |
| 7 | 11 | DAYTIME DAZZLER | Col Williamson | Glen Killen | 2.8L | 12 | 56kg | $41 |
| 8 | 9 | AQUATORIAL | Ron Macrae | Brad Stewart | 3.3L | 8 | 56kg | $6 |
| 9 | 14 | VIA DEL CORSO | Barry Baldwin | Ric McMahon | 3.4L | 4 | 56kg | $5F |
| 10 | 13 | ROYAL SHOUT | Danny J Bougoure | Scott Galloway | 4.8L | 11 | 56kg | $17 |
| 11 | 3 | BLACK CASH | Kelly Doughty | Matthew Palmer | 4.9L | 10 | 56kg | $61 |
| 12 | 2 | MR FAVULOUS | Donald Baker | Mitchell Wood (a) | 5.3L | 15 | 56kg | $18 |
| 13 | 18e | FAULTLESS DANCER | Ian Livingstone | Micheal Hellyer | 5.8L | 2 | 54kg | $151 |
| 14 | 19e | TYCOON’S HEART | David Kelly | Ben Looker (a) | 5.9L | 9 | 54kg | $151 |
| 15 | 8 | DOUBLE IMPACT | Jackie Crompton | Scott Seamer | 6L | 6 | 56kg | $31 |
| 16 | 7 | PEPPER JET | Liam Birchley | Paul Hammersley | 7.5L | 16 | 56kg | $26 |
| 17 | 10 | DR ICHI | Bevan Laming | Chris Munce | 9L | 14 | 56kg | $19 |
| 21e | MOROCCAN DANCER | Gillian Heinrich | scr | 0 | ||||
| 20e | SEQUENDS | Danny J Bougoure | scr | 0 | ||||
| 17 | PENSIVE DREAM | Gillian Heinrich | scr | 0 | ||||
| 15 | SKATER DUDE | Len Treloar | scr | 0 |
