More Zip Wanted From Derby Star

Sun Herald

Sunday April 8, 2007

Dave Murray

LIVELY Exit would need to produce the form reversal of the decade to win the $120,000 Australian Derby in Launceston tonight.

But premier NSW driver Greg Bennett hasn't ruled out collecting his third group1 race in the Apple Isle.

Bennett, who drove Thorpedo to win the 2002 Tasmanian Pacing Championship in Hobart and Hexus to a heat win during the 2006 Inter-Dominion championship in Launceston, hopes the real Lively Exit will stand up this time.

A brilliant winner of the derby prelude on March 23, Lively Exit flopped when only 11th in the Western Australian Derby a week later.

The Maitland colt showed nothing of the blinding acceleration that punters who took the short $1.50 quote had witnessed seven nights earlier. Under pressure to improve at the 400 metres, Lively Exit paced roughly and broke.

"He just didn't feel right, wasn't the same horse as the week before," Bennett said. "He got back, had no luck early but only struggled to get past a couple of slow ones."

Trainer Robin Hosking was so mystified by the performance that he sent Lively Exit to trial at Byford last Sunday. The three-year-old won the six-horse trial by three metres, prompting Hosking to push ahead with the Launceston trip.

"He trialled OK, so hopefully we can slide across and find a good spot," Bennett said. "He'll be a bit closer than he was last week."

From gate four, impressive Tasmanian Derby winner Lombo Pocket Watch will start a short-priced favourite to win his 23rd race at his 27th start, with Bennett hoping Lively Exit (gate five) can find the form he produced when second to the champion juvenile in the Australasian Breeders Crown final at Ballarat last year.

Vale to a Bulli stalwart

HARNESS and greyhound racing folk were saddened to hear of the sudden death last week of former Bulli Harness Racing Club committee member Allan Brown.

Brown served Bulli for a decade and continued to be a great sponsor and supporter of the club's hard-working women's auxiliary. He was 74.

dmurray@illawarramercury.com.au

© 2007 Sun Herald

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