Father Lenihan, rails, staves off a late burst by One Prize One Goal at Awapuni. PHOTO: Race Images.
Like mum, improving galloper Father Lenihan looks to have a big mile in him
By Barry Lichter • 5 November 2018
Father Lenihan only has keep improving to be competitive in a big mile one day like his mum, tips in-form trainer Lisa Latta.
Latta, who claimed a three-win bag for the second weekend on end when Father Lenihan, Last Chance and Five To Midnight scored at Awapuni, likes the way Father Lenihan never stops improving.
And in the O’Reilly four-year-old she sees some of the traits of his dam Platinum Princess, who won a Couplands Mile and Rich Hill Mile for Latta and Lincoln Farms in 2011-12.
“He has her great temperament and always tries hard and like mum he needs wetter tracks.’’
Platinum Princess won the big Riccarton mile on a dead track and it was even worse, a slow 8, when she took the Ellerslie New Year’s Day feature.
“He can hit the ground quite hard on the better tracks but when he gets the right conditions he’s very good. The ground really suited him on Saturday.‘’
Robbie Hannam has Father Lenihan humming down the home straight at Awapuni. PHOTO: Race Images.Pitted against rating 65 rivals over 1400 metres, Father Lenihan was punched straight to the top by rider Robbie Hannam and, just when it looked like he would be gobbled up, he found a big kick and easily staved off a late burst by One Prize One Goal to score by half a length.
“You just have to find the right track for him, not heavy, but in the slow range.
“While the weather is all over the shop we’ll keep him ticking over. He’ll go in a rating 72 next and we’ll just keep building up his points.
“The way he keeps improving I think he can eventually run in a big mile and he’s obviously at his best when there’s rain around.
“He’s only four and lightly raced. He’s just taken a bit of time to mature physically.”
Father Lenihan was having just his eighth start on Saturday.
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Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Otaki
Race 3: Platinum Tyche
1:19pm
“I couldn’t be happier with her work and she has certainly improved from her first-up run when she did not have all favours. I don’t think it’s the strongest of fields and the forecast is looking good so I think she will get her chance to bounce back to winning form. Bruno Queiroz rides from gate four.”
Race 5: Platinum Attack
2:29pm
“He drew badly in 19 but they will start only 14 so he will come in to 13 or 14. The positive is there is good speed in the race with Shoes, Party Rocking and Idyllic who all go forward. I couldn’t be happier with him - his final work on Wednesday morning on the course proper was as strong as ever. He still has his summer coat and is looking fantastic. It’s a similar field to the one he beat last start at Trentham and Bruno Queiroz just needs to find some luck in the running.”