Race of the Week
Mr. Exspeedient becomes local hero.
Mr. Exspeedient becomes local hero.
After a draught of local stakes winners, Mr Exspeedient beats overwhelming favourite Best Westerner to capture the $50,000 Derby Trial.
Coming into the last prep for the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby, all the talk was of Minnesota invader Best Westerner. However, local trainer Clint Willson and his horse Mr Exspeedient had other plans.
After getting the lead going into the first turn, the Storm Victory gelding let favourite Best Westerner grab the lead half way down the back. Sitting in behind the leader going into the turn, jockey Tyrone Nelson was able to take advantage of a slight misstep of the leader and went through on the rail.
Mr Exspeedient was able to get the lead coming into the homestretch and opened up to win impressively.
Mr Exspeedient came into the Trial off a second place finish behind Best Westerner. “I liked my chances,” said Willson, “we had to make Best Westerner run for it today and it worked out for us.”
Best Westerner, trained by Jamie Ness, pulled leading rider Alan Cuthbertson to the lead midway through the backstretch. The team of Best Westerner and Mr Exspeedient opened up a huge lead on the field. Going into the turn with the lead, Best Westerner looked to have a repeat performance on his hands. But, coming into the stretch, the tiring leader was only able to hang on for third.
Ruckus Rules, trained by Carl Anderson, could see them all going down the backstretch and made a huge move on the turn about four wide along with Ascot Hall. Coming into the stretch, the Monarchos 3-year-old was full of run and rallied to get second.
Ascot Hall also trained by Anderson finished fourth.
