 |
Calming Influence |
07 December 2013
Calming Influence has put a controversial fortnight behind her and defied a betting plunge to win Saturday's The "HQ Of Insurance" Handicap (1150m) at Kensington.
The Chris Waller-trained filly was the subject of a stewards' inquiry following her last-start third when punters sent her to the barriers a $2.05 favourite.
Apprentice jockey Serg Lisnyy partnered Calming Influence on that occasion. He set a pace that was 10 lengths faster than the average of the top 10 fastest times recorded for the distance over the past 256 races conducted at the Kensington track.
Punters were cautious about what that effort had taken out of Calming Influence, allowing the filly to drift from $2.60 to $3.60 on-course.
Despite jumping straight to the front again, the patient hands of Hugh Bowman kept Calming Influence under control before the pair kicked off the bend.
She maintained her lead right to the line defeating the Bjorn Baker-trained Encostanati, who sat behind Calming Influence, and the heavily backed Cry Havoc from the Goulburn stable of Danny Williams.
Cry Havoc opened as much as $5 during the week with the corporate bookies. On Saturday, the son of Savabeel opened $3.40 on-course before drifting to $3.60 and that's when the money arrived.
"He was the one we expected some money for off the back of two huge wins out of town," rails bookmaker Grant Palmer said.
"We opened him up pretty short and kept winding him out. Once he got to that mark ($3.60) they hammered him."
Waller said despite a "tough run" last start he'd consider another race for Calming Influence.
"We didn't even put a saddle on her for five days after that (last start)," he said.
"She's showed here that she's coped with that and that shows our systems are working.
"I had a 1400-metre race in mind but after winning this I think she'll get too much weight."
-->
back to News Page
