It’s Somewhat secures Doncaster in brilliant front-running effort
GODOLPHIN six-year- old It’s Somewhat has caused a massive upset in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile after surging to the front and kicking in the straight to return $43.50 at Sportsbet.com.au.
The least favoured of John O’Shea’s three runners took pole position early in the race and ran freely in front of the huge field under superstar jockey Zac Purton, who gave the gelding an extra gear when it mattered most to take out the feature event of the day.
Fellow six-year-old Happy Clapper loomed up and looked the likely winner entering the latter stages of the race but failed to overtake the leader to return $2.80 at Crownbet.com.au, while Sense Of Occasion forced its way into the placings to deliver a massive $13.40 dividend at Sportsbet.com.au.
Godolphin Australian head trainer John O’Shea said the team gave It’s Somewhat was in peak physical condition to take out the feature event.
He’s just a workman horse,” O’Shea said.
“To be fair he’s had a really good prep into the race. When he won first up he wasn’t ready.
“We thought he’d finish in the top four or five but just the way the track was playing, we had to ride the track and he’s a tough horse and it was a great Zac Purton ride.”
The man O’Shea highlighted – jockey Zac Purton – registered his second big win of the day in taking out the Doncaster Mile.
“It’s been hard to make up ground today. I went back and looked at his race when he won here over 2000m and I really liked the way he used his action. John said to me earlier in the day ‘do you want to be positive?’ and I said ‘yes’.
“He said ‘good, he’s fit’.
Purton said the team had no concrete plans to send It’s Somewhat forward, but in the end the position proved to be a decisive one.
“The plan wasn’t necessarily to lead but I got there comfortably and I just let him bowl along so it worked out well.
“In Sydney most of the races are run at pretty slow tempos, and when you roll along a little bit more you take a gamble, but I’ll always back myself. If you win it’s great and if you lose well at least you lose trying.”
The win was the first major group one in the American import’s Australian career, and the Godolphin team is confident it will not be the last.
O’Shea said it is probable the horse will get a short let up before attacking the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
“We’ll probably just stick with what we were going to do,” the trainer said.
“Go to Queensland for the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup. He’s going there on fresh legs, second up today and hopefully he can pick up something else up there.”