You know those horses that jump out fast, clear the field and go on to win untested?
You do?
Well if you were one of those that backed GENUINE AL into just about joint favouristism for the Rochele Painting Handicap at the Gold Coast on Saturday, that’s not the way you were thinking for the first three quarters of the race.
But as someone said 100 years ago there is only one point of judgement on a racetrack and it’s a piece of wood at the far end of the home straight – the winning post.
At that point on Saturday you knew Genuine Al was one horse you might like to follow – provided he can find a very firm track. His first-time rider Noel Callow said the reason Genuine Al did not look to be travelling well in third place in the middle stages was because he was struggling with the movement on the soft 6 surface.
It wasn’t until Callow could pull the gelding into the clear to the middle of the track in the home straight that he properly balanced and galloped strongly to the line.
A number of horses by Atlante in New Zealand have managed good form on “off” tracks, but it’s clear Genuine Al is not one of those. “It looks like a flint hard surface is the one for him,” says trainer PAUL DUNCAN.
Another pleasing aspect for Duncan was how well behaved Genuine Al was in the starting gates. ” I applied to have him put in (to the stalls) last and although I thought they were not going to allow that, it worked out well. He was nice and quiet and jumped out fast for Noel.
“One thing I did take from the race is that it looks like he will run a bit further than 1400m – he was very strong late. After a bit of a quiet week I will probably look for a 1600m for him.”