Mental Qualifies For Overseas Trip

Saturday, 10 November 2012 04:18

Mental gets the better of Sea SirenHis mission accomplished in Australia, Patinack Farm Classic Group 1 winner Mental is off to Dubai in a month to show the rest of the world what a good sprinter he is.

Mental ($6.00-$7.00) took advantage of a great tactical ride from Kerrin McEvoy which saw him stalking race favourite Sea Siren ($4.20-$4.60-$4.00F) all the way down the Flemington straight. With 100 metres to go, McEvoy made a lunge at Sea Siren and Mental gained a half length advantage. Despite Jim Cassidy's best efforts on Sea Siren, Mental went on to win by three quarters of a length.

The pair streeted the opposition, with the Gai Waterhouse trained Hallowell Belle ($14-$15-$14) coming third, three lengths behind the leaders.

"He really bought his A-game here today so I'm very pleased with the result", said winning trainer Peter Snowden.

Mental"He sweated on the run of the favourite (Sea Siren) and everywhere Jimmy (Cassidy) went he (McEvoy) was right beside him and when Jimmy started to come off the bridle at the 300m we were still going well."

"She dug deep, she didn't give in and he had to work really hard to get there."

McEvoy who has been on board Mental for 6 of his seven wins, was thrilled to win a Group 1 race on the horse.

"He is a great horse and it's a pleasure to be a part of his career."

"Pete (Snowden) picked this race out as the earmark for the spring because he thought he would be well suited down the straight."

At his last start, Mental ran an excellent second to Sea Siren at Moonee Valley in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

McEvoy was unsure before the race whether to follow the speedy Buffering or something else but he quickly realised that Sea Siren was the horse to follow.

Peter Snowden & Kerrin McEvoy"I didn't know where they would get situated during the run, whether they would go out towards Buffering or where the race was going to be generated from so I just went out with an open plan to try to get into the clear when I needed to."

"We were confident he could settle a bit closer in the run today and he let go when i pressed the button, he really exploded."

Snowden pointed out that Mental is one of the most improved horses in his stable, coming from a Benchmark 85 race at Hawkesbury in May to winning a million dollar Group 1 at Flemington six months later.

"This preparation he has improved out of sight", he said.

Mental"He put the writing on the wall at Moonee Valley and there wasn't much between them. Straight racing really suited this bloke."

Snowden has high hopes for Mental when he races overseas.

"He probably wouldn't have to improve much more to be competitive over there."

"He is probably the best horse we've sent there and he's going there in the best form."

"He is still on the way up which is the best thing about him, he still hasn't reached his peak."

While Mental excels as a sprinter in Australia, being by Lonhro he may be competitive in Europe over a longer distance.

"He could possibly get a mile (1600m) but seven furlongs (1400m) is probably his best trip", Snowden suggested.

"He is just a tougher horse now and he copes with his racing really well."

Mental goes to quarantine next Thursday and will leave for Dubai on the 17th of December.

Photos: Quentin Lang