By Duane Ranger
If tonight’s Wairarapa Cup at Manawatu Raceway was a mobile then Lew Driver would have a big smile on his face.
Instead he’s waiting for the $12,000 event with much trepidation and apprehension.
“I just don’t know what Lewy Risk is going to do from a stand. I practised three standing starts with him this morning (Wednesday) and he stepped away from all three nicely. He’s a real head scratcher. All I can say fingers crossed at the start,” the Kumeu trainer said.
“All bets are off at this stage.,” he joked.
Lewy Risk will start from two on the 10m back mark in tonight’s feature event at the Wairarapa Harness Racing Club’s meeting – the Post Office Hotel Pahiatua Wairarapa Cup for the R60 and faster pacers.
“He’s a Cup horse and has started in a New Zealand Cup before, and at his peak he should have their measure, but this is Lewy we are talking about. Anything could happen,” Driver said.
‘Anything’ did happen on the first day on Tuesday when Lewy Risk blew to bits coming around the home turn the first time. The $1.70 favourite broke badly and finished a 65-length last (seventh) in that 2000m, R57 to R68 mobile.
“Andre (Poutama) was just asking him to move around the field and he blew his near-side shoe which caused him to go into a wild gallop.
“I can’t see that happening again tomorrow. He’s real fit and I know he can win. The first 20 to 30 metres will tell all,” Driver said.
Lewy Risk has had 13 standing starts for no wins and no placings. All up in a career spanning back to April 2013 the 7-year-old Elsu gelding has had 65 starts for eight wins, 13 placings and has banked $112,852 in stakes.
He has placed twice from five Manawatu starts. Poutama will doing the driving again tonight.
Going into Tuesday’s race Lewy Risk finished seventh behind the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained Cash N Flow at Alexandra Park last Friday night. Driver said he would return to Auckland after tonight’s assignment for more city racing.
“He’s my best chance on Thursday if he steps, but in saying that my other two have eaten up everything and have recovered well from their good runs on Tuesday. I think they can go close again,” Driver said.
The Driver trained and Poutama driven Smackwater Jack notched up his fourth career win in an up to R58 pace by half a length on Tuesday. He drew nine that day and has got the four marble today.
“That was a good win and he’s probably the pick of them. I expect all three to be thereabouts,” Driver said.
Driver’s 3-year-old Rocknroll filly, Belfast finished a two-length second in Tuesday’s 3-year-and-older pace. However she has copped the widest front row draw (7) to contend with in tonight’s first event, after drawing three on Tuesday.
The last 11 winners of the Wairarapa Cup (with trainers and drivers) have been:
2016: The Paul Chalklen trained Mischief Maker (Kyle Marshall).
2015:The Geoff Small trained The Bucket List (David Butcher).
2014: The Brent Mangos trained and driven Major Star.
2013: The Jim Curtin trained and driven Suu Kyi.
2012: The Andrew & Lyn Neal trained Delight Brigade (Todd Mitchell).
2011: The Stephen Doody trained River Field (Jim Curtin).
2010: The Brent Lilley trained His Honour (Josh Dickie).
2009: The Brent Lilley trained Flyin Interstate (Jay Abernethy).
2008: The Geoff Small trained Victory Spirit (David Butcher).
2007: The Kevin Smith trained Make It Real (Tony Shaw).
2006: The Brian Fleming trained Wicklow Express (Phil Fleming)
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