Boom Queensland pacer Lanercost secured a brilliant Group 1 victory on Sunday night when he took out the $100, 000 Group 1 Country Club Tasmania Australian Derby (2698m) at Launceston.
The Darrel Graham-trained and driven Lanercost, a son of Courage Under Fire, began as the odds-on favourite at $1.90 and lived up to the expectations racing home to defeat surprise local runner-up Gedlee ($65.50) by four metres with the second-elect Renaissance Man ($2.40) in a fast finishing third just a neck away.
The Andy Gath-trained Renaissance Man enjoyed the inside barrier and began well, leading early on. But it was Lanercost and his brave run up the outside without cover who stole the show, securing the lead around the final turn and proving his amazing ability at only three years of age.
It was a gallant run by Gedlee who fought hard to move up to second after missing the start and settling last early on.
The talented Lanercost now has an even more impressive winning strike rate, having saluted in 14 of his 17 career starts, finishing second twice and third once in the others, for over $230, 000 in prizemoney. His Group 1 victory on Sunday has now greatly improved his value as a stallion.
The $30, 000 Group 1 SEW Eurodrive Tasmanian Derby is next on the cards for Lanercost this weekend and it seems the unstoppable star has the skill to not only win races but scare off his competitors as only six other pacers are game enough to challenge him in the Derby.
Following the Tasmanian Derby Lanercost will be given a well-earned spell before going into training for the $100, 000 Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 10 in his home state.
2010 Tasmania Australian Derby Results
Place |
Horse |
Prizemoney |
Row & Barrier |
Trainer |
Driver |
Margin (m) |
| 1 |
LANERCOST (NZ) |
$60, 200 | Sr2 | D W Graham | D W Graham | - |
| 2 |
GEDLEE |
$12, 900 | Fr6 | P G Rawnsley | S GRawnsley | 4.00 |
| 3 |
RENAISSANCE MAN |
$8, 600 | Fr1 | A P Gath | K M Gath | 4.80 |
| 4 |
MAPUA LEGEND (NZ) |
$4, 300 | Fr4 | I J Frost | G W Rattray | 10.30 |
| 5 |
MASTER JOY |
$2, 000 | Fr5 | S M Hunter | G Lang | 13.00 |
| 6 |
OGRADY |
$2, 000 | Fr7 | C D Salter | C D Salter | 18.80 |
| 7 |
BELLS AND WHISTLES |
$2, 000 | Sr4 | C C Attard | J J Caldow | 19.60 |
| 8 |
MAGGIE KENNEDY |
$2, 000 | Fr2 | W M Campbell | R J Hadley | 24.10 |
| 9 |
ADDA PATERNAL SUIT |
$2, 000 | Fr3 | P W Tonkin | G A Campbell | 25.90 |
| 10 |
MAYBE DOC |
$2, 000 | Sr1 | C T Hayes | G A Hodges | 28.60 |
| 11 |
TRULY BLISSFULL |
$2, 000 | Sr3 | G R Smith | J W Johnson | 29.80 |
| Scratched: | ||||||
| FINN LEE |