Loyal Lou demolishes his opponents in Inter City Pace

Lightly raced Loyal Lou (Sweet Lou) having only his fifth Australian start created a big impression with an effortless all the way harness racing win in the 63^rd running of the Listed Kirkwoods Produce Inter City Pace at the Maitland paceway on Saturday evening.

Loyal Lou was easy in the betting despite drawing the pole while the inform Heidsieck was backed into favourite.

Showing dazzling speed from the pole Loyal Lou was able to hold the lead for driver Seaton Grima and while the field changed position behind the leader this left Heidsieck forced to race outside the leader.

Loyal Lou was travelling well within himself and Grima let him run his second and third quarters in 28.5 and 27.9 seconds which broke up the field up and saw him with a lead of over 25 metres on turning for home.

The three year old gelding cruised to the line just under 15 metres from Heidsieck who refused to give up in second with Bettorlightemup finishing on for third. In winning Loyal Lou made up for his Heat loss on protest the week before.

LOYAL LOU REPLAY

The win capped a big night for Grima who had previously won the Maitland Cup with Itzmineontheline.

Loyal Lou is bred to be a prolific winner. Although his dam Loyal Arden (Art Major) has only left four pacers to make it to the track they have all made an impression.

Bred by Invercargill hobby breeder Steve Baucke and neighbour David Sutherland Loyal Arden was purchased as a three-year-old for a modest $2,500 from an Auckland mixed sale in 2014.

The first of Loyal Arden’s progeny Loyalist who earlier in the night had been runner up in the Maitland Cup and has won 14 races with a fastest time of 1.49.8. then his brother Mr Perfect has won 15 races while the younger half sister Go Oh Micky won 11 races.

Loyal Arden was a half-sister to the millionaire pacer and NZ Cup and A. G. Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney and the New Zealand, New South Wales and USA winner Arden Messi.

Grima explained the connection to Loyal Lou’s family.

Joe Conolly bought Loyalist from New Zealand.  He then tried to buy Mr Perfect but he was sold to Melbourne and then went to America.

Then while I was in Qld, I got a call from an owner wanting the next of the progeny that turned out to be Go Oh Micky. She won seven straight and we retired her to the breeding barn.

Joe purchased the weanling, and then tried to buy Loyal Lou.

However I had an owner (Dom and Joe Maurici) who wanted to purchase another horse and that’s how I got Loyal Lou.

I just can see his speed, he’s real fast, and he’s getting stronger by the day. Hopefully when he builds up in a few months he’ll have the speed and staying power to get to next level. With that bit of speed I’m looking to adapt him to Menangle mile racing.

He’ll have a very short break and I’ll take him to Tamworth for Golden Guitar and hope for his good speed on a tight track. It should suit him as he is now a 60 class horse.

In the longer term we’d like to think of the Chariots Of Fire to be run during the Menangle carnival on 7 March as one of his aims.

For the owners Dom and Joe Maurici this was their second Inter City Pace success having won with Chevron Art with Jack Trainor. Grima took over the horse later in his career.

Although he has a fair way to go before reaching his illustrious half brothers record Loyal Lou gives every indication that he could well be the best of the lot to date.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink