By Duane Ranger
Sportswriter’s third New Zealand starter has proven to be his first winner.
The Stonewall Stud-bred The Lone Ranger became the former American 2-year-old champion’s first Kiwi triumph when he beat his older rivals in the $5,300 Harness Jewels Maiden Pace at Cambridge Raceway last night (Thursday).
After leaving five fillies his dam – Cruzee Lass has now left her first male winner after the good looking brown colt sat parked and then simply out-stayed his 10 opponents.
Barry Purdon trained Cruzee Lass (by Christian Cullen) to her nine wins between 2005 and 2007. Scott Phelan did most of the driving behind her. He also drove The Lone Ranger last night.
The Lone Ranger, who was the hot $1.40 favourite, paced the 2200m mobile in 2:43.5 with final 800m and 400m sprints of 60.5 and 28.4.
His mile rate was 1:59.6 – 0.9 of a second quicker than when he won his Pukekohe workout (right-handed) by three lengths at Pukekohe last Saturday (January 23).
Co-trainer Steve Telfer wasn’t getting carried away with the best 2-year-old at Stonewall Stud.
“He’s done all that we have asked of him. The Young Guns heat at Alexandra Park next month will be next for him and then we will take it one race at a time.
“He’s a very nice colt but I’m not getting carried away after just one race,” said Telfer who co-trains The Lone Ranger with Chris Garlick at Ardmore.
His partner Jill Stockman, who is one of the co-owners of The Lone Ranger was more upbeat about the promising colt.
“He has an exciting future. I’ve thought a lot of him for some time now. He’s a medium-sized colt with a lovely nature. He’s well mannered, has good looks, has a nice gait and has high speed,” Stockman said.
The Lone Ranger is obviously the complete opposite to the person he is named after then!
“We named him after you Duane, because he’s a Sportswriter,” Stockman added.
She said long-term The Lone Ranger would target the Harness Jewels Finals at Cambridge in June and possibly the Breeders Crown in Australia in August.
“All depends how he comes up. Steve thinks he will make a really nice 3-year-old so we will just wait and see,” Stockman said.
The Long Ranger is owned by Stonewall Stud and the Stonewall-Lone Ranger Syndicate, which comprises nine owners from throughout New Zealand and Australia.
“We had a great night. We even had owners up from Christchurch to see him win,” Stockman said of the colt nicknamed ‘Monty’.
Sportswriter (Artsplace – Precious Beauty – Jate Lobell) P2 1:49.4 P3 1:48.6 $1,566,460 – was a champion 2-year-old in the USA and Canada, who won the 2010 North America Cup.
“Luke McCarthy told me Sportswriter was a wonderful horse in America, one of their best juveniles. He was racing when he was working up there. His progeny have certainly started well down here,” Stockman said.
Meanwhile it was a night for the favourites last night with six winners from the nine races. Pick Six paid just $136.40 and could have been less had favourite Valmagne not broke in the lane in the last race.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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