By Matt Markham
While superstar trotter Monbet hogs most of the headlines ahead of next week’s Dominion Handicap at Addington, another son of trotting super stallion Love You is quietly chipping away in the background quite nicely.
And while Philip Iggo thinks that his newest trotting star, Bordeaux, is still probably 12 months away from being a fully fledged open class square gaiter, he’s not hiding from the fact he thinks he can give plenty of people a fright next Friday.
The final phase of Iggo’s meticulously planned preparation fell beautifully into place at Kaikoura on Monday when the showy chestnut run his rivals of their collective hooves in the South Bay Trotters’ Cup.
Iggo knows a thing or two about the Dominion Handicap, his former open class star, The Fat Controller took on the trotting feature on three occasions – finishing third behind Stylish Monarch and I Can Doosit in 2010.
“This guy hasn’t probably got as much natural speed as The Fat Controller, but he’s tougher,” Iggo said.
“We have been able to take out time with him too which has helped whereas with the other horse we were constantly up against things it felt like so it’s been nice to be able to be a little more relaxed.”
Iggo set out with a plan at the start of the season to get to the Dominion Handicap – despite the fact he had, at the time, only had 12 career starts.
“We have intentionally stayed away from mobiles ahead of the Dominion.
“He’s still very much a raw product in my eyes and being by Love You would suggest that he will just keep getting better with time so hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him.”
The six-year-old has been patiently handled throughout his career and has always looked a staying prospect – leaving him a perfect horse for our major trotting features which are both held over the ultimate distance.
“He’s got a big heart that’s for sure, he will just keep going and doesn’t like horse’s getting past him too much.
“The two miles of a Dominion should be perfect for him.”
Given a solid front running drive on Monday by Dexter Dunn, Bordeaux found the front early and never looked back – breaking the hearts of some well-credentialed rivals coming off the back before holding off the challenge of Le Reveur inside the final furlong.
“He just keeps finding when you ask him for an effort,” Dunn said.
Le Reveur was super fresh up behind Bordeaux for Paul Nairn and David Butt while Valmagne showed he’s peaking at the right time for the Kennetts with a very much improved third ahead of Cup Week.
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