Brilliant Bates Snares Cup as Lanson 'Slips' Rivals
- Monday, 01 August 2005 00:00
Lanson was sent out the heavily backed favourite with on and off course punters and cruised to victory, beating Susurro and NT Derby winner Patarchie in great style. But there were plenty of anxious moments for connections when the saddle on Lanson slipped badly when he began to make his move.
Jockey David Bates, who also trains the gelding, lost use of his irons and had to hold on desperately to his mount as he raced clear of his rivals in the straight despite Bates' inability to pull the whip.
Bates, who admitted to thinking he was going to fall off before the finish, was at his very best. His years of experience were put to the test and under the circumstances he came through with flying colours - and a special Darwin Cup win!
"The horse hung most of the race," Bates reported. "At about the 600 (metres) I went to go forward on him around the corner the saddle slipped."
"I got to the home corner and I was right over the side of him and I thought bugger it, I've either got to fall or keep going. So I just kept at him."
"I actually thought I was going to fall off about 50 out. He's a good little horse," a relieved Bates added.
Bates rode the gelding about midfield for much of the race before making his moving shortly after leaving the back straight. He then reached the leaders at the top of the straight, at which point he was confident of victory, provided the two were still together on the line."
"I thought he could win when we rounded the corner and he hit the front," Bates noted. "I thought they're not going to run past and pick me up. I just had to stay in the middle of him."
For Bates today's win was his third as a jockey during his long and distinguished career in the saddle in the Top End - but it was his first as a trainer.
"During your whole career - it doesn't matter where you are - all you try to do it win your local Cup. I mean it's hard to get a Cups horse."
"This horse had done everything right, things nearly came undone today, but it never and we're just over the moon, fair dinkum."
The win was a triumph for senior part owner Mark Conroy and a group of mates who own the horse. For Conroy the win was especially special, having bred the son of Gallo di Ferro in South Australia.
"It's unbelievable," a delighted Conroy said moments after the race. "Funnily enough we own the stallion as well, Gallo di Ferro - so it was pretty good."
Lanson is the second stakes winner sired by Gallo di Ferro - following in the footsteps of the capable Adelaide based staying mare Pipkin - a winner during last year's Adelaide Cup Carnival. She also ran second in Adelaide on Saturday.
Conroy said he was confident of Lanson running well in today's Cup - but admitted after drawing an outside barrier he knew the job would be tougher than first imagined.
"Drawing a wide barrier we thought we might get caught on a limb out the back. We were a bit worried about getting in. He covered some ground but still proved too good in the end, even with the saddle slipping."
"He's a very tough horse. A very clean winded horse," Conroy said.
Lanson, former based in Victoria, has thrived since being transferred to Bates in Darwin. He has now won four of his five starts.
All up his record reads at nine wins and nine minor placings from 31 starts. The six-year-old's stakes earnings were boosted to $211,035.
