OUTBACK GLADIATOR HAS TO SETTLE FOR SECOND PLACE IN THE RESCHEDULED LISMORE CUP

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, September 27, 2022

In a rare visit across the border Mark Du Plessis travelled to Grafton to ride in the rescheduled Lismore Cup meeting on September 27.

Du Plessis was aboard the Chris Munce trained Outback Gladiator, a $9 chance whose price was slightly exaggerated due to the presence of the short-priced $1.85 favourite Stuck With You.

As it turned out, the favourite, after being rushed early, never featured in the outcome, but the Kris Lees trained $8 chance Spanish Point did, sinking the hopes of a Country Cup win for the Munce stable with a solid performance.

Du Plessis kept Outback Gladiator in close enough touch with the leaders for almost a full circuit of the Grafton track, giving his mount every chance, but when Spanish Point made up ground quickly from behind in the second half of the race … and then continued a sustained turning into the straight, Outback Gladiator had found one too good for him on the day.

The best Du Plessis could do then was to keep coaxing Outback Gladiator along and he did that with Outback Gladiator responding well enough to land second place which, given the authority of the winner, was the best result he could have achieved in teh circumstances.