Racing: Rugged galloper grinds out

When it comes to toughness, Wellington galloper Dunmore Boy rates highly for Manawatu jockey Robert Hannam.

Dunmore Boy won the $15,000 Raukawa Cup (1600m) at Otaki after bounding to the lead with more than 600m to run.

The Tinryland Lad seven-year-old gelding had to fight off a stern challenge from Greenback in the home straight on Saturday but Hannam said he always had confidence Dunmore Boy would prevail.

"I knew he wouldn't lay down," Hannam said.

"He could have gone another furlong [about 200m] at the same speed. He would have just kept going."

Hannam, who rode Dunmore Boy to win the $40,000 Interprovincial Handicap [1600m] at New Plymouth three years ago, said the horse was typical of those from the Trentham stable of Eddie Carson.

"All Eddie's horses are tough and can handle heavy tracks like today. I knew he [Dunmore Boy] would be fit and hard."

Hannam said it may have looked he had gone for the doctor when he took Dunmore Boy to the front before the 600m but it was more a case of the pace slowing on what was already a moderate speed.

"They were going too slow. I was just sliding forward when the pace eased."

Greenback, the mount of Vanessa Johnston, made a race of it when she came after Dunmore Boy in the straight but went down by half a length.

Said Hannam of Greenback: "She got to me but couldn't get past. This [Dunmore Boy] is a tough horse."

"You could put a kid [apprentice] on him and he would be flat raising a gallop; he needs to be ridden hard."

Dunmore Boy and Greenback had the finish to themselves with a gap of five lengths to third-placed Bumper To Bumper, who fought on after leading at his first run of a new campaign.

The favourite, Banchiere, was a well-beaten fifth after having his chance, while second favourite Bobby Beaver battled in the straight to finish sixth of the seven runners.

- NZPA