Darwin trainer Garry Lefoe Jr’s I Am The Fox’s spirited home straight dash with Jason Lyon in the saddle helps him secure St Patrick’s Day Cup at Fannie Bay
DARWIN trainer Garry Lefoe Jr knew he was getting a quality experienced stayer when he acquired I Am The Fox before yesterday’s Shenannigans St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay. And the seven-year-old delivered with a spirited surge late on the straight.
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DARWIN trainer Garry Lefoe Jr knew he was getting a quality experienced stayer when he acquired I Am The Fox before yesterday’s Shenannigans St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay.
And the seven-year-old delivered with a spirited surge late on the straight – piloted by star Victorian jockey Jason Lyon – to claim the sought-after $40,000 feature mile event.
“I knew he’d be very competitive in this race,” Lefoe Jr told the Sunday Territorian.
“He won the Hanging Rock Cup (over 1850m in Kyneton on January 26) and he got a very competitive fifth in Moonee Valley in his last start.”
Phil Cole’s $19 outsider Looking For You (jockey Vanessa Arnott) was a game runner-up, leading from the start and for most of the race before being mowed down late to finish half a length behind.
“’Grassy’ (Lyon) has ridden him (I Am The Fox) before and he knows the horse inside out,” Lefoe Jr said.
“He came up to ride him in this race, and he was confident he’d run well.
“Looking For You ran a really good race and kept hanging on in front.
“(But) Grassy knew exactly when he needed to go on the straight.”
I Am The Fox proved his long-distance Cup credentials were good after yesterday’s spirited triumph.
“We’d like to take him to the Alice Springs Cup, and maybe even the Darwin Cup after that,” Lefoe Jr said.
Lefoe Jr had a day to remember, with Ima Puppet winning the $20,000 race-one Pot of Gold Handicap (1300m) by a length, with Paul Shiers in the saddle.
“She’s a super mare and we’re very happy with her,” Lefoe Jr said.
Can Lefoe Jr record a memorable St Patrick’s weekend double with Yulong Awesome (jockey Wayne Kerford) in the $25,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) at Alice Springs today?
“He’s a very nice horse, and he should also be very competitive and in with a good chance,” he said.
Other winners yesterday were Papalet (trainer Gary Clarke, jockey Jarrod Todd), Husslin Humph (David Bates, Alice Lindsay) and Kellers Shelter (Phil Cole, Lindsay).