Notable double for White Robe Lodge

White Robe Lodge trainers Brian and Shane Anderton and Christchurch owner-breeder Pat Smith achieved a notable double in the $35,000 open races at Cromwell on Sunday (3/12/2017) with the brothers Gallant Boy and Patrick Erin, both sons of Gallant Guru and Mega Babe.

Gallant Boy narrowly won the 1400m Centrepoint Liquor Handicap (formerly the Wanaka Cup) and Patrick Erin continued his rise in the staying ranks with an impressive win in the 2030m Dunstan Feeds (formerly the Queenstown Cup).

It was the eighth win for Gallant Boy, whom Smith races on his own account. Patrick Erin, raced in partnership, has now won nine from 19 starts and he is on target for the $250,000 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on January 20.

Leading jockey Chris Johnson was keen to retain the mount on Patrick Erin after riding him for the first time at Cromwell.

"He is some horse. He sprinted quick when the gaps came in the straight," said Johnson, who won the 1986 Wellington Cup on Samasaan, trained at Riccarton by Garth Jackson. Ed, trained at Riverton by Ces Beckett and Megapins from the Balcairn stable of John and Karen Parsons are South Island-trained winners of the Wellington Cup in the interim. The race was over 2400m when Megapins was successful. The last Wingatui-trained winner of the race was Great Sensation in 1963, his third successive win in the event.

Brian Anderton trained Joyarty, who finished fourth in the 1982 Wellington Cup. Joyarty won over 2100m at Wingatui in her lead up that year.

Gallant Boy, ridden by stable apprentice Corey Campbell, came from sixth in a nine-horse field and out finished pacemaker Johnny Jones by half a head.

Patrick Erin settled fifth three back on the inner and threaded his way between horses in the straight to win by a length and a half, making light of 59.5kg.

Brian said he is now viewing a start for Patrick Erin over 2100m at Invercargill on December 16.

"We will just see how he comes through each race. We are under no pressure,'' he said.

Stablemate Tommy Tucker, under 61.5kg, staged a big run from back in the field for third to Patrick Erin.  His immediate mission is the $50,000 Timaru Cup on December 28, a race he has won the past two years.

The Anderton-trained Raise You Ten, winner of the Gore Guineas in January, returned to winning form at Cromwell with Campbell the rider. The son of Raise The Flag won by half a neck after disputing the pace outside Residential.

Erin 's Babe, a half sister by Raise The Flag to Gallant Boy and Patrick Erin, cleared maiden ranks at Wingatui on November 7 for the Anderton - Smith combination. Mega Babe (Personal Escort - Red Diamond) has left six winners from that number of registered foals.

Broadside (Raise The Flag - Anam Cara) won the listed $125,000 ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Winner of the group three Newcastle Cup (2300m) in September, he had been freshened by trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.