15 November 2022 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Longford trainer Todd Rattray described the win of Looby Lombo in the Group 2 Collins Homes Granny Smith in Launceston on Sunday night as Steven Bradbury-like.
The mare missed a fall near the 150m point, resulting in five of the 12 runners failing to complete the course.
Lafond and Seventhreeohseven both fell, Lalasa lost her driver, and Melnrowley and Most Perfect Major were involved in the incident.
All horses escaped serious injuries, as did their drivers, despite a couple of reinsman feeling stiff and sore on Monday morning.
Looby Lombo was well driven by Rohan Hadley, who positioned the mare one-out and two-back, but he made what turned out to be a race-winning move around the home bend when he switched to a position three-back the marker pegs.
When race favourite and leader Melnrowley broke stride, she ran up the track, and that allowed a clear path for Looby Lombo to run down Barooga Rock in the shadows of the post.
Trainer Todd Rattray admitted the mare needed things to go her way but was confident the mare would run out the 2698m trip.
“I knew she would get the distance, and she always seems to run on well when pulling up.
“Rohan chose to drive for luck, and he got that in a few ways, but we are pleased with the result,” said the trainer.
Looby Lombo’s dam, Lombo Anastasia, was purchased by Denise Rattray and Leah Page, with the mare in foal to Looby Lombo at the time of the sale.
Lombo Anastasia has produced four individual winners, including Group 1 winners Lombo Navigator ($554,522) and Barynya ($525,971).
While Rattray doesn’t believe Looby Lombo will reach those heights, he still believes there is improvement to come.
“She is always thereabouts, but there is still a horse there. She is very immature, so hopefully, she keeps improving,” he said.
The mile rating for the race was 2m 0.4s, which smashed the four-year-old mares age record of 2m 10.0s for 2698m, held by Idengood Time in April of 2007.
The fillies and mares record is held by Elect To Live, who ran 1m 59.7s in her 2002 Australian Derby win.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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