Sportswriter 1:48.6 ($1,566,460) has been carving out a fine record for himself in both North America and Australia over the last two or three years but has tended to fly under the radar a bit here in New Zealand due in the main to the fact that he has had no stock on the ground to this point.
That all changed tonight when the Telfer/Garlick team produced a very smart son of Sportswriter in the form of the two year old colt The Lone Ranger at the Harness Racing Waikato meeting at Cambridge Raceway.
A son of the former smart racemare Cruzee Lass 1:57.4 ($99,544), The Lone Ranger had been very impressive at the recent Franklin workouts, winning a 2050 heat in a 2:00.5 mile rate with a super last 400 metres of 26.7 and on the strength of that run he was installed a warm favourite even though he was facing older horses.
The workout win at Franklin was smart enough to convince driver Scott Phelan to label him his best drive of the week to Harnesslink this morning for the Bets of the week ringaround.
And the smart looking colt didn't disappoint with an impressive debut win after having little luck in the running.
Away well from his second line draw, The Lone Ranger was left to face the breeze for the last 1600 metres outside the leader Whale Rider who set a hot tempo in front.
When Scott asked The Lone Ranger for an effort at the 400 metres, he quickly mastered Whale Rider and then comfortably held off a late challenge by Bet Out Of Ell to record an impressive debut win.
The Lone Ranger paced the 2200 metres in 2:43.5, a mile rate of 1:59.6 with closing sectionals of 60.5 and 28.4 and looked to do it with something in reserve.
Sportswriter's oldest foals in New Zealand are two year olds this season and number just fourteen in total so tonights win by The Lone Ranger was a great advertisement for his young sire with this years round of yearling sales just over three weeks away.
Harnesslink Media