Carr, Baker, sire do it by threes

BRIGHTON trainer Royston Carr has long been regarded as a master horseman so it was no surprise he left the Launceston track on Wednesday night having bagged a treble.

Preparing three winners made it a special night at the office for the respected and well liked trainer.

His winners were The Greatness, Goodbye Lonesome and Acronym and all scored emphatic victories.

But what made it a more exceptional treble was that all are by littleknown sire Swinging Bachelor, who stands at stud at Brighton for a $500 service fee.

“It was definitely a good night at the office and that they are all by Swinging Bachelor made it even more special because the stallion doesn’t get a lot of exposure for his owner, Peter Scollard,” Carr said.

“I’ve had a few trebles in my time and I think I probably got three in a day with horses by St Briavels many years ago, but it’s a real buzz getting three winners at any time.”

Goodbye Lonesome raced outside of the leader in a Class 1 over 1400m, but when rider Troy Baker hit the go button at the top of the home straight the gelding powered five lengths clear and went on to score by three-plus.

“I was particularly impressed with Goodbye Lonesome because he really put the end result beyond doubt quickly at the top of the straight,” Carr said.

“He is a very nice horse who has taken time to mature, but I would expect him to be competitive in whatever he tackles at his next few starts.

“Goodbye Lonesome is a lovely horse who is raced by one of my best mates Mick Swan, who also helps out at the stable. Racing is a real passion of Mick’s, so I’m rapt that he’s going to have some fun with the horse.”

The Greatness showed Carr enough as a two-year-old to suggest he had above-average ability, but he was slow to mature.

“I knew that if we gave The Greatness time to develop he would be a handy galloper and thankfully the penny is starting to drop,” he said.

“I thought he was tough the way he attacked the line over the last 200m, so if he keeps improving we might head him towards the Tasmanian Guineas because he gives me the impression he’ll run a strong mile.”

Acronym enjoyed the run of the race on the rails behind the leader and when Baker eased her off the fence to challenge she went on to score impressively.

“Acronym was bred by my wife [Tull Luttrell], but the mare can’t go a yard on rain-affected tracks, which is why she was well suited to the firmer track on Wednesday night.”

Carr’s only other runner on the night was Global Princess, who finished third in the race won by Goodbye Lonesome. All of Carr’s winners were ridden by Baker, who is the trainer’s future son-in-law, as he is engaged to top jockey Siggy Carr.