By Duane Ranger
Lew Driver isn’t getting carried away with Lewy Risk’s workout win at Pukekohe last Saturday. In fact he said the son of Elsu still had plenty to prove before he races again.
Lewy Risk opened up paying $121 to win the Auckland Cup but Driver never intended started the 7-year-old up the Group One feature on New Year’s Eve.
“He’s his own worst enemy. I was devastated when he broke in the (New Zealand) Cup and finished half a lap behind them. He’s a real frustrating animal to train because I know just how good he is when he’s right. On his day and with a trip he can match it with most open class pacers.
“He’s not a spent horse just yet, but I think I will just have to target mobiles with him now. He just can’t seem to get his head around standing starts,” Driver said from Christchurch.
Driver trains out of Kumeu and Lewy Risk’s nose victory over lesser quality pacers (right handed) at Pukekohe last Saturday hasn’t convinced him enough to line the gelding up at Cambridge Raceway this Saturday or even Alexandra Park on December 31.
“He didn’t beat much in that workout but at least he won. I have no idea where he will line up next. I just need to keep monitoring his improvement. Perhaps the mobiles in Australia will suit him long-term, but he’s not going anyway in the near future. I think he has a few more wins in him yet,” Driver said.
“He does have a near side knee problem and throw in bad draws and his standing start manners and you can see why he hasn’t had much luck.
“At this stage I’m making no immediate plans with him and just taking him week by week,” Driver said.
Lewy Risk hasn’t finished in the money for five starts. That was when he and Brent Borcoskie finished third behind Expressive Victor and Maverick in a 5-year-and-older pace.
He hasn’t won since October 2015 when he and Colin DeFilippi triumphed in a C4-C9 Pace at Addington Raceway on October 2. He beat favourite Art Union and Franco Harrington that night.
Lewy Risk is owned by Driver and Charles Driver, and was bred by Alabar Stud.
The underrated gelding is the fifth foal, and only New Zealand winner, out of the unraced and now deceased Road Machine mare, Kind Of Fun.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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