Rising colt with colours of Winx
STUART Kendrick hopes rookie two-year-old Mister Larrabee can do the Winx colours justice when he makes his debut at Doomben on Saturday.
Mister Larrabee will race in Peter Tighe’s Magic Bloodstock colours – royal blue with white epaulettes and a white M – which were sported by champion mare Winx.
Sunshine Coast trainer Kendrick says the Smart Missile gelding will be the first galloper he has raced for Tighe, with a other owners in the colt including RadioTAB general manager David Salmon.
While Winx strung together 33 wins in a row, connections would be happy if the galloper who races in the same colours could register a win on debut to start his career.
Rated a $9 chance by TAB in the QTIS 2YO Handicap (1200m), Kendrick has seen enough from the colt in two jumpouts to know he will be competitive and hopefully have a bright future.
“He had a trial in early December but pulled up shinsore after that so we tipped him out,” Kendrick said.
“He has come back in and had a couple of jumpouts and gone good in both of them. “I think he’s a nice horse. “Hopefully he can do those colours justice. We certainly just don’t want him to disgrace himself in those colours.”
Mister Larrabee picked up his name because his dam is the mare Lady Hepburn.
Actress Audrey Hepburn starred in the 1954 film Sabrina alongside Humphrey Bogart, who played Linus Larrabee.
Mister Larrabee was also entered to run on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday but Kendrick explained why he chose to deep-end the colt into making his debut in the city.
“At this time of year, if you’ve got a nice horse, you have got a nice horse,” Kendrick said.
“A lot of these horses at this time of year are lightly raced horses with ability and promise. You can run into exactly the same horses on Sunday at Caloundra.
“I just feel if you have a promising young horse coming through, there is not a lot of difference.”
So what to expect from Mister Larrabee on Saturday as he debuts in a strong-looking race with his opposition including the likes of 2YO Jewel runnerup Ahooshu, unbeaten Rex Lipp gelding Balmaurice and the promising Startantes?
“He is one of my stable’s better two-year-olds from what he has shown on the track, although he’s got to do it on race day,” Kendrick said.