First gr 1 win for Patrick Erin
FORMER Otago stayer Patrick Erin gave his Melbourne Cup prospects a massive boost by winning the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
The former Brian and Shane Andertontrained galloper burst out of the ruck to win his first group 1 title in the 2400m feature for trainer Chris Waller and rider Corey Brown.
The performance was a fitting tribute to his owner and breeder, the late Pat Smith, who died earlier this year.
‘‘Patrick died four months ago and we sent this horse over here earlier in the year hoping he could win a race,’’ Smith’s wife, Jan, told the Sydney Herald.
‘‘He ran [sixth] in the Sydney Cup and went really well but to win a race like this — Patrick would be proud.’’
Brian Anderton devised the plan to send Patrick Erin to join Waller’s stable to enable the horse to have his opportunity for bigrace success.
The enormity of the task in being entrusted with the horse by the halloffame trainer was not lost on Waller.
‘‘For him to trust me with this horse was a pretty big thing,’’ Waller said.
‘‘To get a horse from the man, who has made history in racing, including with Noble Bijou, was pretty special.’’
Patrick Erin was born at Anderton’s White Robe Lodge and is by resident sire Gallant Guru from Mega Babe, who is by another resident sire, Personal Escort.
Incredibly, Gallant Guru has attracted only one booking from outside White Robe Lodge’s broodmare band for the current breeding season.
Anderton watched with pride with White Robe Lodge staff as Patrick Erin won the Metropolitan.
‘‘I was delighted for Jan Smith,’’ Anderton said.
‘‘He has got a lot of guts, that horse, and we just looked after him and looked after him and now he is ready to go ahead and do it.
‘‘They chased us out of New Zealand with the handicap system; he had to carry 59kg in the Wellington Cup and he had only won five handicaps.’’
Patrick Erin had a massive 105 horses weighted above him on the Melbourne Cup’s order of entry when it was released earlier this month.
He is also nominated for this month’s Caulfield Cup and has a 50kg for both features.
The horse’s chances of making the Melbourne Cup field rest on him earning a handicapping penalty from his Metropolitan win.
He could also get a penalty from another topthree performance in a major event leading into the $A7.3 million feature.
Immediately after his win on Saturday, the Melbourne Cup was already on Waller’s mind.
‘‘I think two miles is really going to suit him. That’s when he’ll really hit his peak, so I think we’ll be having a good look at the first Tuesday in November and working back from that.’’
After jumping well and finding a handy spot, Patrick Erin and Corey Brown were shuffled back as the race went on.
Brown angled the galloper into the clear, where he produced a big finishing burst to win.
‘‘There wasn’t any speed on paper so I thought we would settle midfield, but we kept getting shuffled right back,’’ Brown said.
‘‘He was probably worse than midfield but, once the runs appeared in the straight, with no weight on his back he actually picked up and lengthened really well.
‘‘Obviously, I already have a Melbourne Cup ride [European Magic Circle], but I would love to partner this horse all the way to the cup.’’
. . . to win a race like this — Patrick would be proud