Torpedo shows his class

ASTUTE harness trainer Juanita McKenzie is adamant Laredo Torpedo will make his presence felt in some of the country cups late this season.

McKenzie made the prediction after the gelded son of Bettors Delight scored an emphatic win in a C3-C4 over 2090 metres in Hobart last Friday night.

Laredo Torpedo was well driven by Ricky Duggan who allowed the gelding to drift back to midfield from his wide front-row draw (6).

Over a lap from home, Dugan sent his charge up to face the breeze outside of the leader Hez The One, from where he was able to dictate the pace.

When Duggan applied the pressure to the leader 500 metres out, the pair slipped well clear of the rest, with Laredo Torpedo proving too strong over the concluding stages to score by over a metre from Hez The One, with Elect To Go doing his best work late to grab third about 12 metres astern.

McKenzie said Laredo Torpedo had been a work in progress since he arrived at her stables in winter last year.

“This horse started his racing career in New Zealand before being purchased by his owners to race in Victoria where he won three races early in his career for trainer David Aiken,” McKenzie said.

“He ended up in NSW with the Tritton stable and he had a couple of placings at Menangle but that didn’t work out, so he went back to his owners in Victoria for a spell.

“It was while he was in the paddock that the owners contacted me and asked if I would be interested in taking him on and I’m ever so glad I did. He has a lot of ability and I’m just starting to come to terms with what he has to offer.

“I am very confident we’ll be able to target some of the country cups and maybe even aim higher if he realises his full potential.”

The five-year-old has had only 38 starts for eight wins and 13 minor placings for almost $70,000 in stakes.

Trainer Kristy Grant notched her first winner for the season when the well backed To The Rescue scored a narrow win in a C1-C2 over 1609 metres.

To The Rescue ($4 fav) was backed in from $6 despite starting from the outside of the second row (11).

It was the first leg of Duggan’s winning double and much of the win was courtesy of his brilliant drive.

Duggan latched To The Rescue on to the back of Pushkin for a three-wide trail to the home turn.

When he eased his charge four-wide entering the home straight, the gelding forged to the lead and staved off a determined challenge from the well backed Ready To Fire ($15 to $8) and Our Percius ($6.50).

The next harness meeting in Hobart is on Friday night and Devonport will host the Sunday night meeting.