Lord Popinjay extends winning run in Alex Park feature

By Michael Guerin

An unlikely combination has developed into one of the star teams of the northern trotting summer.

Lord Popinjay continued his amazing resurgence since joining the Matty White stable 18 months ago when he led throughout in the $40,000 I Can Doosit Trot at Alexandra Park on Friday night. 

As usual he was driven by Monika Ranger who judged the race perfectly, stepping quickly to the lead then easing in the middle half when backmarker Kyvalley Hotspur was least likely to improve, then charging home in 56.7 seconds.

It was the 10th win of his career and remarkably five of those have come since November, making him one of the most successful horses of any gait or grade of the New Zealand summer.

White admits he doesn’t mind not driving his unlikely stable star after Ranger originally got on Lord Popinjay to seek a penalty-free win because of her junior status.

“We got that and she has stayed on because he gets half rating points as Monny hasn’t driven 50 wins yet,” says White.

“She drives him great and to see them win a Group 3 is very cool for the horse, his owners and Monny.”

Among those owners is White’s wife and HRNZ writer Brigette Solomon, who hubby credits much of Lord Popinjay’s success to.

“Brigette does almost all the work with him and as you can see it is working.”

Lord Popinjay started his career with Dave Mann, who owned the gelding with brother Reg, the two having been constants in the Alexandra Park stabling areas for decades.

They used to work him at Frank Weaver’s property but then sent him to White when Dave decided to step away from training.

“He is a lovely honest horse and the consistent racing has been really good for him,” says White, who has now trained Lord Popinjay to win nine times, eight of those with Ranger driving.

“He has another $40,000 race the Greenlane Cup here next week and then the Country Cup Final at Cambridge on Legends Night (April 4).

“We will take it one race at a time but he could even get his shot at the Rowe Cup but we won’t get carried away.”

The night’s main pace saw Frisco Bay upset the favourites after having the perfect trail over 1700m.

He was able to use the passing lane to grab the brave Ohoka Connor while hot favourite Duchess Megxit got back as expected but had all sorts of traffic problems and once again acted as a warning to punters taking short odds about fresh-up star pacers who are going to settle off the speed.

That message couldn’t have been broadcasted any louder or wider when both driver Zachary Butcher on The Box Seat and co-trainer Scott Phelan on HRNZ told punters Duchess Megxit would be driven conservatively yet she was still backed into $1.45.