Look, it’s sometimes hard to be “over the moon” when a horse you own finishes fourth, particularly if you backed it each-way, but Larrikin Rogue notched a really good fourth at Doomben on Saturday.
As Chris Anderson explained in his preview “weight scales in Brisbane have risen so unfortunately he has to carry the 60 kilos and we’ve drawn a double digit gate which doesn’t help”.
OFFICIAL RESULT
So that’s two starts in this preparation for two-fourths, remembering Larrikin Rogue has already posted three wins for the team from his nine starts.
Your trainer is currently suffering from two bulging discs in his back and watched on from his hospital bed.
‘Larrikin’ was beaten by just over a length, 1.08 of a length to be exact, and was strong to the line.
“Don’t get me wrong I always want to win, but I can’t say I was a long way from being disappointed with the effort under those conditions” Anderson said.
Those two recent fourths have also helped the Queenslanders to the top of the TRL Table and the chance of winning $10,000 at the end of the month.
“His sectionals between the 400 & 200 should be exceptional” Jockey Michael Rodd
JOCKEY SUMMATION SPOT ON
“Really good, so happy with him” was the initial reaction from jockey Michael Rodd on dismounting.
“He jumped well which was good and he got up and running, which is important for when we get up in distance and he can settle a little bit closer.
“The pace came out of the race, they went pretty pedestrian and it became a sprint home.
“His sectionals particularly between the 400 and the 200 should be exceptional, but in the end the leaders just had it too good in front.
GREAT FIGURES BACK UP THE EFFORT
Now when you delve into the sectionals from the race, you’ll understand there was plenty of merit in Larry’s run.
“Having a look at the sectionals tells you this horse is going well.
“He was 10th at the 800-metre mark but turned in the fastest final 600, 400, and 200 of the race.
“His final 400 in particular 22.27 is a fantastic sectional,” Chris said.
Due to his final 400 he actually clocked the fastest last 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000m, the first 350m was the difference.
For people who are interested, his top speed of 67.8km km/h was also the best of the race.
WHAT’S NEXT?
When you have a look at Larrikin Rogue’s three wins they have all come at big spacious tracks Sunshine Coast, Eagle Farm and Scone which all have long straights where he can balance up and have time to hit top speed.
Eagle Farm is ideal, but their next Saturday meeting is December 9 which is the running of the Gateway over 1400m and with the winner guaranteed a start in the Stradbroke it will be an extremely HOT race.
Chris will have a good look at the programming and let everyone know what a likely target is.
THE FINAL WORD
Your jockey has done a lot of work with ‘Larry’ this preparation and we should point out Michael Rodd is a Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate winning jockey so clearly a respected voice within the industry.
“He’s going really well and he’s got a lot of ability,” Rodd concluded.
Go you good thing!