Looee wins Methven Cup

Mighty Looee (Sweet Lou) was an upset win in yesterday’s harness racing G3 Lazarus Methven Cup.

After a smart beginning, favourite Pinseeker was taken to the lead with Mighty Looee and Tim Williams five back on the inside. The order remained the same until the field turned for home and started to fan out. Williams had a handful of horse and when Pinseeker started to weaken and move out in the centre of the track, Mighty Looee took the gap. Here’s Herbie which came up the inside running line got to the front just short of the line but Mighty Looee came back to win by a half a head with Got You Covered three quarters of a length back in third.

MIGHTY LOOEE REPLAY

Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn the win was Mighty Looee’s seventeenth and his first on the grass.

“His first start on the grass was at Methven about a year ago and he couldn’t handle the track at all. I thought he’d be a great grass tracker because he can get a bit keen racing on the grit. Those sorts of horses can relax on the grass,” Robert said.

The seven year old has also fashioned a great record over the longer staying distances. It’s the fourth time he’s started over 3000 or 3200 metres and he’s now won three of those starts.

“That’s why I nominated him for the Cup (IRT New Zealand Cup). We pulled him out because his standing start manners still weren’t perfect. His two mile record is quite outstanding.”

In his ninety five starts Mighty Looee has proved to be versatile too, winning over a mile in 1-52 at Nelson and over 3200 metre in the New Zealand Championship Final.

The winning dividend of $22.00 was surprising considering he ran an encouraging second behind Wag Star, albeit fifteen lengths from the winner.

“I asked Johhny what the stable best bet was (for the day) and he said Mighty Looee, so he was on the mark there.”

Mighty Looee is owned by Robyn Hellaby, Robert’s partner.

“Because the owner’s good to get on with (laughter) there’s no pressure. The Junior FFA on Cup Day is now his main target.”

It’s the third time Williams has won the Methven Cup. His other winning drives were on Smolda in 2016 and Chase Auckland in 2019.

“Tim’s grandfather and my father were partners in business in Wellington. He grew up with Dex (Dexter Dunn). They went to school and played rugby together. He started coming to our place when he was three.”

Dunn provided Williams with his first drive at the workouts and his first winner Easy Armbro at Rangiora in 2007.

Mighty Looee was procured at the 2018 Sale of the Stars for $20,000 when offered by his breeders Tardina Stud. He was one of the first crop of Sweet Lous to hit the racetrack in this country.

The gelding also had a stint in Australia racing out of Luke McCarthy’s barn and winning four races between August 2021 and June 2022.

“The worst thing about racing in Australia was that he kept drawing the outside of the gate because of the race conditions. He couldn’t find the front and he got real keen in his races so we brought him home.”

Mighty Looee has now won $306,656.

“He’s a really cool horse and kids could handle him. He’s strong and well put together but not a big horse. He’s been injury free, beautifully gaited, doesn’t need any knee boots, very light on his feet and doesn’t hit the ground hard.  He can get keen in his work and one day if he learns to relax we’d see a different Mighty Looee.”

This was Robert’s fourth win in the Mt Harding feature, his others having been That’s That in 1987, Corka Dream in 2009 and Smiffy’s Terror in 2022.

For complete race results, click here

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink