Aregee McLaren moves through gears

DAVID Jolly is normally very patient with his horses but he's not wasting any time with yesterday's impressive Morphettville winner, Aregee McLaren.

David Jolly

DAVID Jolly is normally very patient with his horses but he's not wasting any time with yesterday's impressive Morphettville winner, Aregee McLaren.

The Goolwa based trainer has a good opinion of the four-year-old who was only having his second start in a race in yesterday's Projection Graphics handicap because of a major setback. The gelding broke his pelvis in a track accident as a youngster.

"When he won at the Bridge the other day I said to the guys there's not much point in messing around in Class 1 and 2s," Jolly said. "I thought we'd bring him to town and see if he was up to it."

The son of Danzero showed his colours by ripping down the outside to pick up long-shot Ethbaal, who had shot clear late.

Shot In Jest, who missed the jump by three lengths, got through to challenge on the inside but Justin Potter on Aregee McLaren still had a lap full of horse.

Potter uttered the words owners love to hear when he dismounted. "He's a horse with gears," he said with a big smile.

"He was really strong to the line and we're going places with him."

The owners include former jockey Cheree Gask (nee Buchiw), who was a regular rider of Maybe McLaren, the dam of the winner.

"She was Cheree's favourite horse so she had to be involved in this horse," husband Barney Gask said.

Maybe McLaren, trained by Jeremy Gask at Jolly's current stables at Goolwa before he left for England, won 10 races including the Listed Oakbank Stakes.

Her first foal to race is two for two and looks sure to add to the record, with Jolly keen to see him move through his classes.