Rampant Lion in control
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All the way win…Rampant Lion and Jim Byrne (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Rampant Lion out sprinted his rivals in the Listed Tattersall’s Members’ Cup on Saturday leading the entire 1600 metres to claim the Black Type victory at Eagle Farm.
Jockey Jim Byrne sent Rampant Lion (G7 Lion Hunter-La Gypsy) to the front early to set the pace after jumping from barrier 11 and holding off challenges by $2.70 race-favourite Colonial Lass (Shane Scriven) and Nexgen (Brad Pengelly).
Trained by Lindsay Gough, the gelding was too strong in the final few strides for the 13-horse field crossing the line two and three-quarters of a length ahead of Colonial Lass. Nexgen finished a further neck back in third place.
“I spoke to Lindsay Gough beforehand and we had a bit of a talk about the race and the way things could pan out. If the opportunity arose where the pace slackened off I was going to let him crawl forward and sit up outside the leader or if in turn the pace isn’t genuine at all I’d take the lead and that’s the way it panned out,” Byrne said.
“He led and kicked on very strongly which being a stayer I expected him to be a little dour than what he was. He really kicked strong so I was really pleased with the run.
“I was able to get a couple of pinching sectionals passing the 1000 (metres) coming up to the 300 (metres) so I was very pleased with the way he let down.
“Lindsay said to me beforehand that he keeps winding up and that he doesn’t actually sit and sprint but he did on Saturday. They ran home in 34.7 (seconds) and he showed a very good turn of foot which once he gets over the staying journeys which is what he is suited at.
“It was a very pleasing win.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – March 10
TAT Rampant Lion (action).JPG: All the way win…Rampant Lion and Jim Byrne (Noel Pascoe photo)
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