Seven wins for Laing but no keys to Mercedes

May 4, 2007

Mount Vernon (D. Moor) gives trainer Robbie Laing seven winners for the carnival. Picture: DAMIAN WHITE

PEARCEDALE trainer Robbie Laing finished the May Racing Carnival with seven winners but was unable to drive away in a $90,000 Mercedes-Benz four-wheel-drive.

To win the car, trainers had to have four winners at the carnival but one of those races needed to be either the Wangoom Handicap,
Galleywood Hurdle, Warrnambool Cup or Grand Annual Steeplechase.

Unfortunately for Laing, neither of his winners were from one of the four major events but this did not faze jockey Daniel Moor.

``They should nearly give him the car,'' Moor said.

The Warrnambool hoop was speaking after riding Laing's seventh winner in the final race of the carnival yesterday, the Fresha Fruit Juices Rating 78 (1100m).

In a bizarre race, another of Laing's horses, Automaton - one of three he had in the race - shot out at the start and led by as many as eight lengths coming into the straight.

But Mount Vernon ($13) stormed home to overpower the tiring Automaton to win by 1 lengths.

Warrnambool trainer Frank O'Rourke's Fullta ($6.50) was second, with Camperdown trainer Geoff Daffy's Lancet ($8) third.

Laing thanked Moor for a ``terrific ride'', giving the former Warrnambool jockey two winners for the carnival.

All up, Laing finished the carnival with seven firsts, five seconds and three thirds.

The last day of the carnival proved a successful one, leading in four winners for the day: Mazzacano ($7) in race one, the $4.60 favourite Joontoo Gemini in race three, Just Scarlett and Mount Vernon in the last two events.

``I'm not worried about winning the car,'' Laing said.

``I've had a great time. It's been a magnificent carnival.''