Win For Americain Connections In Cup Leadup
- Tuesday, 06 November 2012 05:53
Walk With AttitudeGerry Ryan, part owner of favoured Melbourne Cup runner Americain was pleasantly surprised to see Walk With Attitude win the race before the Cup - the Lexus Hybrid Plate.
Ridden by embattled jockey Damien Oliver, Walk With Attitude was always handily placed in the stakes race for three year old fillies.
Oliver got to the lead in the concluding stages and Walk With Attitude ($8-00-$8.50) got to the line strongly to hold out leader Thunder Rain ($41) which tried bravely to lead all the way under Dwayne Dunn. The winning margin was a half neck, with three quarters of a length to third placed Medusa's Miss ($8.50-$9.00-$7.50).
"Gerry has been a great supporter and it's great to get a winner for him before the Cup and I hope I can do it in the next one for him as well", Oliver said.
"She was a bit keen because she'd been leading and running a bit free but they said if you can try and get a sit today that will be good."
"The pace wasn't that great but she dropped in behind the leader who gave a good kick and took a lot of wearing down but she just got it."
Damien OliverWinning trainer Darren Weir was thrilled to win a race for Ryan.
"It's terrific for everyone involved and Gerry has been a supporter of the stable for a long time so it's nice to win a race for him on Cup Day", Weir said.
"We always knew that if we drew a barrier and got a bit of cover she would have a good kick late but I must say early in the race she did pull pretty hard so she did a good job."
"Damien seems to know how to get them over the line and that's why he is the best."
Walk With Attitude was bred by Ryan's Limerick Lane Thoroughbreds, being by Hussonet from his Danehill mare Hillfa.
"It's a great result for the family and we get a bit of black type for her", Weir said.
Walk With Attitude continued Hillfa's great record over the Flemington 1400 metre course, her mother having won the Great Western Stakes at Listed level over the same track in 2005.
Photos: Quentin Lang
