Abstraction does best in three-way Fourex Cup finish

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 48

Abstraction does best in three-way Fourex Cup finish

NZPA-AAP Brisbane Abstraction, from Victoria, may have earned a Brisbane Cup start after surviving a protest to win the Fourex Cup (2160 metres) at Doomben yesterday.

Trainer Lee Freedman is likely to give Abstraction (7-1 equal favourite) his ultimate staying test in the 3200 m Cup on June 12, after downing the Neville Begg trained Eye Of The Sky (10-1) by a nose in a thrilling threeway finish. Gallant Gold Coast mare Miss Fleet (14-1), which looked to have the Cup won 100 m out, was only a long head away in third place. However, the Freedman stable had to endure a lengthy protest decision before being awarded its third Cup victory in the past two months. Eye Of The Sky’s rider, Wayne Harris, entered a protest alleging interference at the 600 m against Abstraction’s jockey, Darren Gauci. Harris claimed he lost two lengths when Abstraction moved out and cut him off, as both runners were angling for a run. "I was three-quarters to a length off Gauci and the run was directly in front of me,” Harris said. "I moved up to Gauci’s girth when he came out and cut me off.

“It cost me about two lengths — and the race,” Harris said. However, Gauci denied he caused any interference.

“We were racing tight and Harris did race up to me,” Gauci told stewards. “But I thought Harris had moved in towards me to get the full run.

“I believe the run was definitely mine.”

Stewards deliberated for eight minutes before eventually throwing out the protest.

From a Brisbane Cup viewpoint, New Zealand entry, Field Dancer (121), also put in a great trial, flashing home to finish fifth, one and a half lengths from the winner.

Field Dancer was in front of only three horses and many lengths from the leaders on the turn, before storming home.

The New Zealand champion, Poetic Prince, (racing in Australia as Our Poetic Prince) (7-1 equal favourite) almost certainly ran his last race of a star-studded career after finishing eleventh. Jockey Noel Harris had Poetic Prince handily placed throughout, but refused to blame the defeat on interference in the straight.

“He travelled beautifully, and I thought I had them on the turn,” Harris said.

“But he never went on with it in the straight. There was some interference, but it didn’t make any difference. “I think he might be saying he’s had enough,” Harris said. Part-owner Warren Bolton conceded Poetic Prince, Australasia’s greatest stakes winner with sAust2.B million prizemoney, would be retired to stud immediately. Abstraction, by Mata-mata-based stallion Grosvenor, has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since joining the Freedman stable as a graduation winner in December. “He deserves a chance at the Cup now, especially as he’s getting to the line strongly in all his races,” Freedman said.

Abstraction, which won on a heavy track at Eagle Farm on May 20, won the Albury Cup in early April and the Wagga Cup on a heavy track on May 5.

Abstraction has a featherweight 49.5 kg in the Brisbane Cup, and Freed-

man is keen to go straight into the Cup without another run.

Freedman has in mind the Eagle Farm Stakes (2200 m two days earlier, should Abstraction need another run.

Begg also is considering a Brisbane Cup start for Eye Of The Sky.

“He’s never been tried over 3200 m, but it was a very good run today and he’s a very honest horse,” Begg said. Begg has ruled out Eye Of The Sky backing up in the sAustl 00,000 O’Shea Stakes (2400 m at Eagle Farm on Saturday. "If he runs, he’ll go straight into the Cup,” Begg said.