By Duane Ranger
He had a bit of a reputation before he even went to the races. He became Sportswriter’s first New Zealand winner at his first start.
Then it all starting going to custard for The Lone Ranger.
As co-trainer Chris Garlick put it “he blew his only chance at being a colt.’
Garlick was referring to The Lone Ranger’s erratic nature which saw him gallop for no reason in his last three races.
“He’d pace well in his races and then wham, he’d lose the plot and gallop for no apparent reason. When he did that on the stables bend at Alexandra Park last start (December 9) with Tony Herlihy (MNZM) in the sulky, we were left with no option but to have him gelded,” said Garlick who co-trains the 3-year-old-gelding with Steve Telfer at Ardmore.
South Auckland vet Catherine Pemberton performed the operation on the Monday after that race, and according to Garlick The Lone Ranger has bounced back well.
So much so the usually reserved trainer believes he’d be too good for Friday’s R55-R65 field at Cambridge Raceway.
“I think on class alone he would be too strong for that field, but you never can tell with him,” Garlick said.
The Lone Ranger is rated a 51 pacer and will start from barrier three in Friday’s $7,000 See Lazarus At Cambridge On January 6 Pace. It is a 2200m mobile,
The Lone Ranger became Sportswriter’s first New Zealand winner when scoring over Friday’s distance in 2:43.5 (mile rate 1:59.6) back on January 28. Garlick thinkis he can re[peat the does and notch up his second win in 10 starts.
“His recovery has gone very well. Catherine has done a good job. It’s actually quite an un-intrusive operation.
“He’s cleaned and healed up well and only really missed a couple of days work. He seems as bright as ever and is keen to go,” Garlick said.
Garlick said they had exhausted all other avenues with The Lone Ranger.
“It was a pretty simple decision really. We know how well he can pace and hopefully this operation will realise his potential.
“We are just pleased he has shown no complications from it and is working as well as he ever has,” Garlick said.
Telfer and Garlick have six runners lining up at the Harness Racing Waikato meeting at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night. Here’s what Garlick had to say about them:
Race 2: Anakena (8) – “She needs luck at the best of time, but from gate eight she will need even more usual. If she can get a nice trip then should could sneak a place.”
Race 2: Show A Heart (11) – “This filly didn’t do herself any favours first-up and even though she’s better than that ninth she’s not suited to the second row draw. She can run over the top of them with a nice sit but I think this time around a I think she would be a First4 hope at best.”
Race 4: The Lone Ranger (3) – “Our best chance if he does things right. He has the class to beat this field.” See above.
Race 4: Rhythm N Blues (9) – “He was three-wide and then parked three wide for the last lap and did well to finish fifth last start. He’s the type of horse that needs a sit and one-run at them. If he gets that he can roll over the top of his opposition.”
Race 5: Rocknroll Legend (1) – “He would be our second best chance on Friday and because we don’t know exactly what The Lone Ranger is going to do, he may well be a better prospect – especially from the ace draw. This is is first standing start??? and that is the only slight query. If he goes away with them and then gets handy from his draw he can win.”
Race 5: Lola Jones (2) – “We scratched her from the mobile (race 5) in favour of this stand. The nice draw and her manners should take her a long way in this. If she’s handy she can also make her presence felt when it counts.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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