By MIKE DILLON
Trainer Gary Barlow felt like he was in Disneyland receiving the Avondale Cup from Prime Minister-elect Helen Clark last night - few people win a $150,000 group one race with a horse with a broken leg.
Eighteen months ago Trounced's career looked over when he fractured the fetlock joint of his off-front leg, but a delicate operation put him back on track - literally.
Carrying three screws in his leg, Trounced did exactly that to a talented line-up thanks to a lovely ride by Brian Hibberd, who never left the running rail in a race which was always going to be run at electric pace.
Barlow was the only representative of the Trounced camp at Avondale. Business kept co-owner Don Frampton in Wellington and fellow owner Jan Lynds, wife of co-trainer Jeff Lynds, could not make it. Pressure of work at the Palmerston North stable and stud kept Jeff at home.
Barlow admits the leg injury may shorten Trounced's career.
"He'll probably get arthritis in the joint eventually, but he's holding together well at the moment."
Meanwhile, the Waikato Times Gold Cup in 10 days is a likely target and Trounced is also nominated for the $500,000 Blue Star Auckland Cup and the Wellington Cup.
"Everyone knew the speed was going to be on. It was just a matter of what had the speed to get there, camp behind the leaders and hold its place," said Barlow.
Hibberd admitted he'd planned not to be on the rail, but one place out and one back.
"But it couldn't have worked out better for me. Everyone was talking about the speed of some of the others, but Trounced ran 1600m in 1:33 in front on his own in winning the Winter Cup at Riccarton."
In a close finish Trounced held on to beat outsider Windsor Phew with a nose to In My Time and a further nose to luckless favourite Magic Winner. Second and third placings were reversed after an objection by In My Time's rider Linda Ballantyne.
Despite being three wide down the back straight, rider Opie Bosson felt Magic Winner would still have won but for being shuffled out wide on the home bend.
Racing: Barlow loves being Trounced
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