Texas Cowboy lassoes first win

There was plenty of intrigue surrounding the opening race at Te Rapa on Saturday, with several promising youngsters lining up in the Banquo 3YO (1200m), but it was Texas Cowboy (NZ ) (Ace High) who upset the applecart when claiming victory at odds of 45-1.

The Danica Guy-trained gelding had just the one run as a juvenile, finishing sixth over 1200m at Matamata in May, and punters wrote him off in his first-up run this season against strong opposition.

The son of Ace High was the best away and was sent straight to the front by jockey Erin Leighton before quickly handing up to sit in behind the hot speed set by Lit Show (NZ) (Super Seth). Texas Cowboy improved to sit in the coveted one-one position, where he continued to stalk the frontrunners.

Rounding the final bend, Leighton launched her bid and asked her charge to improve three-wide, and he responded, collaring Lit Show with 200m to go, and he held off the challenge of his more fancied rivals to win by three-quarters of a length over Proteus, with a further short neck back to Shambo Jack (NZ) (Shamexpress) in third.

Guy was beaming with pride following her homebred’s maiden win.

“I have always rated him very highly, but you don’t know until you put them up against the better competition,” she said. “That is the way to start your three-year-old season.”

Guy said Texas Cowboy has furnished into a lovely three-year-old, and she was equally pleased for Leighton to get the win.

“He is just so grown up this time in, he has got a real turn of foot and he relaxes beautifully. He is just the ultimate professional racehorse,” she said.

“He is a real gentleman and Erin rides him most days, and she has done a beautiful job educating him. I am absolutely thrilled for her that she got the win on him today.”

Leighton has formed a great bond with Texas Cowboy, and she was rapt that he was able to showcase his ability on raceday.

“He has shown us a lot at home, so to put it together like that today has been awesome,” she said. “This prep, every week he has just got more professional. There were a lot of nice horses in that field today, but we thought a lot of him too, and Danica looks after him so beautifully.”

Leighton said Texas Cowboy is one of the characters of the stable and she has given him a moniker to suit.

“I call him Bart Simpson because that is the sort of character he is,” she said. “He is cool as and cheeky, and would pull your pants down if he was a person.

“He loves his job and he has got a good gallop, and he has got a bright future. I am really pleased for Danica to have a nice horse.”

Guy said Texas Cowboy will now head to Hastings next month in search of black-type in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).

Meanwhile, Guy has been pleased with the way her dual Group Three winner Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) is progressing, having placed in both of his trials this time in, and said he is on track for the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie in a fortnight.

“He is ready to go for the Proisir Plate,” she said. “It is looking like he is going to make the field now, which is a relief. He is really on, I am rapt with him.”