By Duane Ranger
Waikato trainer Dave Iremonger wasn’t going to start Richard Le Fort at Alexandra Park on Friday, but an impressive workout win at Cambridge last weekend has forced his hand.
The talented Jereme’s Jet gelding has won four of his 28 career starts, but none easier than his two-and-a-half length victory over stablemate Atom Hanover and Scott Iremonger.
“He won under a hold and Dylan (Ferguson) didn’t have to pull the plugs. I was quite impressed with his fitness. I didn’t expect him to be that far forward.
“I was going to get another workout into him but he’s now told me he’s ready to race. The other horse went real well too. His plugs were still in as well. I think he will be a good each-way chance from the one draw,” Iremonger said.
In fact the Morrinsville conditioner said all six of his horses racing at Alexandra Park on Friday were all good prospects – but Richard Le Fort shone above them.
“He won by a couple of lengths on Saturday in a five-horse workout. Atom Hanover is a nice pacer as well, but ‘Richard’ is a couple of lengths better than anything I have racing on Friday,” Iremonger said.
Richard Le Fort paced Saturday’s 2200m mobile in 2:47.3 (mile rate 2:02.3) and came home in 57.3 and 27.3 without really being asked for an effort. He drew five of five.
The lightly raced 6-year-old has copped the widest front row draw of eight in Friday’s $14,500 Eddie & Marge Hopkins Mobile for the R54 to R59 pacers.
The R57 rated Richard Le Fort, has won three times over Friday’s 2200m mobile – at Riverton on October 29 and then Alexandra Park on June 17 and 30.
He stepped up to Vasari, Alta Intrigue and company at Alexandra Park last start (July 17) and finished a “good” fifth.
“He didn’t get any clear air and was running on real well when it was too late. I think he could have run at least second in that race.
“It’s not going to be easy from eight this time, but he’s a big horse who has a big amount of speed. He’s certainly one of the better ones I have trained over the years,” Iremonger said.
“Whatever he does this week he will be better for it, but yes he can win,” he added.
Iremonger is fresh from his best training season in a training career spanning back to 1992.
The former policeman, now lawyer, was glad he reached his target of 10 wins last season and wants to increase on his career tally of 35 on Friday.
His starters are:
Race 1: Rock N Roll Patron (8) Dylan Ferguson (j); Race 2: Richard Le Fort (8) Dylan Ferguson (j); Race 3: Speedy Earl (5, 10m) Trent Lethaby (j) and Opawa Speed (6, 10m) Robert Argue (j); Race 6: Atom Hanover (1) Dylan Ferguson (j) and Easy For Cullen (4) Robert Argue (j).
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