42 years later, Brosnan nabs another ID victory

In a race of so many great stories, former Kiwi trainer Richard Brosnan delivered the best of them by winning the Inter Dominion trotting final with Maori Law.

A staggering 42 years after he won the same race with No Response at Addington, Brosnan teamed with his son, Emmett, to resurrect Maori Law and win trotting’s most famous race again.

Driver Greg Sugars worked the rising nine-year-old forward to take the lead from Majestic Man and never really looked in danger, digging deep late to fend-off Majestic Man and win by 1.7m with Just Believe coming from three pegs to finish third in a 1min59.4sec mile rate for 3009m.

“To win a Group 1 race, let alone the Inter Dominion, with the old man is pretty amazing,” Emmett Brosnan said.

“This was a family effort, Dad, Mum, Virginia (sister) … everyone was part of this.”

Sugars heaped praise on the Brosnans for turning around Maori Law.

“I drove this horse a while back, well before he went to them, and the transformation has been remarkable,” he said.

“The job they have done with him is amazing.”

Maori Law (Lawman) is bred and raced by well-known owner Fred Crews, who described it a “magical moment.”

“He deserved this. We’ve always had a big opinion of him, but he’s had few a little things go wrong at times,” he said.

“Emmett and Richard have done the most amazing job with him. We were really confident going into the race. He was right where they wanted him.

Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith also produced a superb training performance with Majestic Man, who looked a chance for a fleeting moment when he came off Maori Law’s back, but had to be content with a brave second.

Majestic Man led early and, in a very smart move, Butt took a trail on Maori Law and had every chance to run him down. Second in the final was a great outcome when his series looked in tatters after an inglorious second round showing.

Veteran Group 1 performer Tough Monarch ran a bold race for fourth after having the one-one trail.

Emerging Victorian stayer The Penny Drops got to his favourite spot outside the leader in the middle stages, but was beaten on the home turn and just battled into sixth spot.

Glamour mare Pink Galahs lost all hope when she galloped in the score-up, had to chase hard to make up ground and settled at the rear of the field. She ran ninth.

77-year-old Brian Gath’s prediction his drive, Illawong Stardust, would run a bold race certainly proved true when she scooted home along the inside from a five-pegs run to finish an eye-catching fifth.

By Adam Hamilton