Guys, he's entitled ( and to a certain extent expected) to try and get his horse out and give it a chance, the fact was the horse outside him was travelling just as strong/weak as his own and thats why he didn't succeed.
There was nothing dangerous or foul about it. Admitedly,it didn't LOOK pretty, but safe enough IMO.
If that was my horse and he didn't at least have a crack at getting out he'd be sacked, either on suspicion or for incompetence, he could take his pick.
Cheers,
Dan
If you want to see a bad drive watch Has the Answers tonight, absolutely butchered!!!! now there is a drive deserving of time on the sidelines.!!!
The horse is not at his best over 2500m, so you cook him out of the gate, go to the front and keep on reeling off sub 30 quarters with NO PRESSURE from anywhere until the tank runs dry 500 metres out. Absolutely bloody disgraceful. And no guys I didn't back him, I'm just bewildered why someone would do that to a horse of such known quantites as Has The Answers.
I think you should be having a shot at the trainer who consistently gives these instructions,that said,I think it's his perogative even if to the rest of the world they appear ridiculous.
See below. Wonder if the stewards will do as they warned...
Late report from inquiry conducted at Gloucester Park Friday 3 February 2012.
Stewards concluded an inquiry into the tactics adopted by Kyle Harper (HAS THE ANSWERS) in the early and middle stages of Race 8 the Yes Loans Fremantle Pacing MS Cup (2906m) in particular his reason for after gaining the lead in the early stages, not taking the opportunity to obtain a trailing position behind the favoured MR FEELGOOD USA early or DASHER VC NZ in the middle stages. He explained that he had been instructed to retain the lead despite expressing his opinion to Trainer Tony Svilicich that he would be better taking a trailing position rather than be pressured.
Mr Svilicich confirmed the instructions issued and added that he was reluctant to have the gelding driven from a trailing position as it had a tendency to pull when covered. When questioned on the fact that the gelding had won from a trailing position the previous week when it had appeared to race tractably, he explained that the gelding had been prepared differently for that event after drawing the back line. When drawn the front it was always his intention to make use of the gelding’s early speed to endeavour to lead which then made it difficult for it to be restrained to a trailing position.
Stewards advised Mr Svilicich that in their opinion the gelding, which had previously demonstrated that it was not suited to racing over longer distances when pressured, should be driven differently in such events. In future, if they were of the opinion that he had issued unrealistic instructions to a driver, action would be taken against his licence.
Stewards dictating tactics? I don't think so !