Sweet Lou colt delivers a crushing win

It’s always a tough ask for a young juvenile pacer to race battle hardened older warriors, but Sweet Lou colt Spirit Of Arion took it all in his stride today (Aug. 25) and delivered harness racing punters a win at the shortest win price ($1-10) of the day.

Driver Matty Williamson wasn’t in a hurry early but moved the two year old forwards with 800 metres to run, hopping into the one one. He peeled Spirit Of Arion out four wide as the field turned in and the horse was reined up to win by three quarters of a length from Sagwitch.

SPIRIT OF ARION REPLAY

Gore trainer Tony Stratford handled Spirit Of Arion’s early education.

“I brought him home to geld him, but it was too cold and wet, so we never did it and we just pushed on.”

Anderson says the colt is likely to start next in the $25,000 Diamond Creek Farm Oamaru Juvenile Stakes on Hannon Memorial Day.

Some of the owners of Spirit Of Arion have been in horses with Anderson since Eamon Maguire.

“We’ve had a few in between – yes they’re all happy.”

Spirit Of Arion is the first foal out of the four win Bettors Delight mare Spirit Of Delight and was part of the Woodlands Stud draft at the NZB National Yearling Sales in Auckland. Anderson paid $90,000.00 for him.

He’s closely related to Spirit Of St Louis which Anderson developed and won eight races with. The gelding won a further eleven races in Australia including the Ballarat, Shepparton and Benigo Cup. At the recently held Brisbane Carnival at Albion Park he won a couple of open races and finished second in the Blacks A Fake and Sunshine Sprint, both Group One races.

“The boys went over for the Carnival and had a good time, and this fella could end up over there too.”

At last year’s yearling sales Anderson bought three of the progeny of Sweet Lou at each of the Auckland and Christchurch sales.

“Were probably Sweet Lou’s biggest fans but he’s been good to us as well.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart