By Tim O’Connor (HRV)<\/p>\n
Master trainer Andy Gath has built a reputation on identifying and succeeding with tried New Zealand horses, and a recent buy from across the Tasman might be one of his best yet.<\/p>\n
Five-year-old gelding Outlaw Man continued a sparkling start to life in Australia when he strung together a seventh-straight victory for new connections at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night.<\/p>\n
And this triumph was arguably the most impressive of his career.<\/p>\n
The son of Sweet Lou speared straight to the lead from barrier two and never looked like being caught, with dual 27.2sec closing quarters capping a dominant 7.8m victory in a mile rate of 1:52.5 (1720m).<\/p>\n
It was a second successive win with Outlaw Man for young reinsman Jordan Leedham, who drove a similar front-running race seven days prior.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully after tonight a few more people think he\u2019s a lot better than what they probably think he is because he\u2019s just been going through the grades,\u201d Leedham said after the Prydes EasiFeed Pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight showed what he can really do, and the whole way he was up wanting to roll so I was happy to just go with him and let him do his thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just showed what he can really do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leedham works for Gath Racing and knows all about the success the stable has enjoyed with pacers and trotters from overseas.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the horses that Andy has purchased and brought over from New Zealand have all done terrific jobs and have all gone on to win a metro or two, but I reckon he\u2019d be up there with one of the better ones that we\u2019ve had come through lately,\u201d Leedham said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he\u2019s one of my favourites too, so I\u2019m happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outlaw Man won his first start for Gath and new owners in December last year, and after being beaten into third a day later at Ballarat, has prevailed in his subsequent seven runs. The blitz here in Australia has raked in more than $60,000 for connections and taken his career record to 12 wins from 36 career starts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s bred to have a lot of high speed, and he can sustain it for that 600-800 metres and just look like he\u2019s doing it effortlessly,\u201d Leedham said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was super tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Tim O’Connor (HRV) Master trainer Andy Gath has built a reputation on identifying and succeeding with tried New Zealand horses, and a recent buy from across the Tasman might be one of his best yet. Five-year-old gelding Outlaw Man continued a sparkling start to life in Australia when he strung together a seventh-straight victory […]<\/p>\n