SAND NOV 13 - LARRY ARRIVES IN THE NICK OF TIME

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 15, 2010

Sandown Hillside, November 13, 2010.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - True. Penetrometer: 5.48.
Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Stakes (Group 3) Quality - 1500m.
Time: 1.33.21. 600m Sectional: 37.89. (Carrying 56kg).
1 Larry’s Never Late; 2 Demerit; 3 Rockpecker.
Margins: 0.1L x 3.0L.

A rain affected track and a near perfect first-up record were the ideal combination for the promising galloper Larry’s Never Late in the Group 3 Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Stakes over 1500 metres at Sandown on Saturday.

After a reasonably successful Brisbane Winter Campaign with placing’s in the Chairman’s Handicap and Premier’s Cup, Larry’s Never Late was sent out an 11.00 chance.

The son of Pentire took his first-up record to five starts for four wins and a second when he overhauled the favourite Demerit in the shadows of the post.

Trained by Jim Conlan and ridden by Mark Zahra, the pair reaffirmed their association after Conlan provided Zahra with his first Australian Group 1 winner when stayer Above Deck took out the running of the 2006 Doomben Cup over 2200 metres.

Larry’s Never Late scored by a short-head from Peter Snowden’s galloper Demerit with three lengths back to Rockpecker in third place.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Jim Conlan: “The conditions really did suit him.

“He loves the sting out of the ground. He’s a tough horse and I thought at the furlong he had to dig deep, but he’s a good horse and he did.

“He has got a great first-up record. He hasn’t had a trial this prep, so he has come into to it really quite fresh. It’s been a good effort.

“In nine weeks there is a race in Dubai we might even put him in and have a look and we will see what happens.

"We might even back off him a bit and head to Sydney even … so we’ve got a few options. We just couldn’t get him ready for any earlier part of the spring.

“We’ve had a look at Dubai and there is some good races for him there on turf, so we’ll have a talk about it.

“He is a good traveller this horse and he’s got good ability. He is a pretty good horse and Dubai might not be that ridiculous … we’ll see.”

Jockey Mark Zahra: “1500 metres first up … Jim (Conlan) has done a great job because it came down to a real big fight late.

“He had a couple of goes Demerit. He kicked twice on the inside and we just got the better of him late. He’s done well.

“I won my first Group 1 in Australian for Jim and I’ve always had a bit of success for him so it’s great to jump back on his bandwagon.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Larry’s Never Late):9.00 out to 11.00.
Favourite (Demerit): 3.30 out to 4.00 into 3.50. Finished second.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Itsamonty was a late withdrawal at 8.14am and Devils Force was a late withdrawal at 11.08am, both due to the downgrade of the track.

Luen Yat Forever was slow to begin.

Demerit and Rockpecker raced wide without cover throughout.

N Hall (Sound Of Nature (USA)) was of the opinion the gelding did not feel right. A subsequent veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities.

More articles