Connections enjoy day at the races
WHAT was meant to be an educational run quickly turned into a rich one for the connections of Laughing Crusader.
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WHAT was meant to be an educational run quickly turned into a rich one for the connections of Laughing Crusader.
The locally-trained gelding produced a surprising run to take out the Niagara Furniture Finishes Handicap at Corbould Park yesterday.
Trainer Robert Wilson started the four-year-old in the 1400m race to help him recover from the affects of a fall a few weeks ago.
But with Cassie Priest on board, Laughing Crusader handled the slow track better than the rest of the field to record a half-a-length victory.
Wilson said he wasn’t expecting the wet-track specialist to win.
“I wasn’t happy with his last run (last on February 20). He raced very shy,” he said.
“The start before his last one he got tripped and came down on his nose.
“We put Cassie back on board, she knows him really well, and gave him an educational run and with the wet track it panned out for us.
"It was mainly to get him over his fear.
“We decided to ride him a little bit quieter, give him plenty of room and teach him a little bit.
"We didn’t expect him to win but knew he could.
“It was mainly an educational run.
"He did get a fright when he came down.”
Slipperylilsucker led the 15-strong field from the gates in the fourth race of the day.
Race favourite Tit Tat Tooee ($2.10) settled in third and stepped up the pace at the final turn.
But it was Priest’s mount which showed the best turn of foot over the final 200m, striding to the front to finish ahead of Drag Queen ($7) and Tit Tat Tooee.
Wilson said he had plans for the horse to race over 1800m.
“I think we’ll stretch him another couple of furlongs yet. I think we’ll get 1800 out of him,” Wilson said.
“He loves the wet tracks too.”
Priest said she felt confident heading into the Class 2 race given his form during track-work.
“I was confident.
“He’s been riding well in track work and I couldn’t fault him,” she said.
Originally published as Connections enjoy day at the races
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