Australian
Horse of the Year Dissident posted his first winner at Trentham in New Zealand
on Saturday with a powerful debut victory for Louis Luck.
Louis Luck strengthened the Karaka Million hand for Te Akau trainer Jamie
Richards when winning the Wellington Cup Day Next Saturday 2YO (1200m) beating hot
favourite The Fugitive.
Having trialled well for two seconds in November, Louis Luck took advantage of
the coveted one draw to drive through in front under rider Opie Bosson.
With favourite The Fugitive to his outer, a match race ensued, but first
starter Louis Luck proved too strong in winning by a length.
"He jumped and put himself in the race, and travelled nicely," Bosson said. "He
got a little bit lost before we turned in. He got on the wrong leg a few times
but he kept up a good gallop.
"When The Fugitive first came up beside me I was a little bit worried, but once
mine balanced up he came up underneath me, so I was pretty confident."
Winning trainer Jamie Richards was confident of a good showing by Louis Luck,
who is raced by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendon and Jo Lindsay.
"It was a good effort by the team to get him to the races in such good order,"
Richards said. "He's had a few little immaturity holdups, but he's really
stepped up. He's eaten well, worked well, and we were quietly confident he'd
give a good account of himself after the way he worked with Probabeel on
Tuesday morning.
"I'd like to thank Brendan and Jo for their continued support, and Henry
(Plumptre) lets us take our time and nothing is ever a problem. We can pick and
choose where we want to head which makes it a lot easier from a training
perspective and we can let the horses tell us when they're ready."
A $105,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Little Avondale draft, Louis Luck is
the first winner for My Option (USA), a Group III winning daughter of
successful former shuttler Belong to Me.
The current yearling from My Option is a grey filly by Dissident that will be
offered by Davali Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale as Lot 552.
Newgate Farm's Dissident has had five placed runners including stakes-placed
Challa, so was well overdue to get that first winner.
Dissident has had 21 yearlings sell during Book One at Magic Millions at an
average $126,429.