Pat Carbery had the look of a satisfied jockey after the Goodwood Sprint (1300m) feature race at Belmont Park yesterday.
It was simply a stroll in the park for the diminutive senior jockey and his giant 17 hands high galloper, Settle Strada, who has been undefeated in his four starts this campaign –all of them feature races.
Previously the pair had combined to win the Beaufine and Bolton Stakes in July and the Newmarket on August 10. It will take another very good horse, in the future to emulate, Settle Strada’s feature efforts this winter.
Carbery found his charge in front after the start of the Goodwood and he never surrendered the lead thereafter.
“He has led and won in previous campaigns so I wasn’t particularly worried. If The Entourage had wanted to lead I would have let him have it.”
The jockey gave Settle Strada three perfunctory slaps down the shoulder in the home straight and then guided him to the line to win by two and three quarter lengths from Talent Show (Jarrad Noske) and Miss Tipsy Topsy (Peter Knuckey).
Carbery said it was pleasing how the big galloper is learning to settle in his races. The senior jockey said he was not a horse you could just “yank back on the reins with.” Carbery said it was more ‘negotiable’ than that!
Trainer David Harrison said he was in a bit of a quandary as to which way to go with Settle Strada.
He has the Hannans Handicap at Kalgoorlie on September 18 as one option. However he is leaning more at this stage to the Farnley Stakes at Belmont, in a fortnight.
“It depends on the handicapper, David Hunter, as to whether he races or is turned out and brought back later for some good races at Ascot,” Harrison said.
David Hunter has indicated that the giant galloper could expect “around 59kg” in either of Harrison’s choices.
Settle Strada has now won nine races (including four listed races) and five places, from only 17 starts.
He cost $20,000 at a Magic Millions sale in Perth, (after initially being passed in for $13,000), and has now returned his connections over $368,000 in prize money.
Part-owner Les Marsden said that Harrison’s recommendation had been a wonderful first -up experience for the Mud Racing Syndicate.
25.8.13