Feature race triumph for sponsor White Robe Lodge

The $70,000 group three White Robe Lodge Handicap, the feature race at the Otago Racing Club premier meeting at Wingatui on Saturday (4/2/2017) was an all-round triumph for the race sponsor. Coulee and Tommy Tucker, the first two home, are trained by Brian and Shane Anderton. Both horses by WRL sire Gallant Guru were bred by the establishment proprietors Brian and Lorraine Anderton, who race the pair in partnerships. Stable jockey Courtney Barnes was aboard Coulee and apprentice Jacob Lowry rode Tommy Tucker. The ownership of Coulee is shared with Gordon Dickson, of Invercargill; Maurice Hampton, of Wyndham, the Diamond syndicate, White Flash syndicate and Woolshed Wednesday syndicate. Coulee was led back to scale by Lynne Lowry (Diamond syndicate) and Wally O'Hearn, a member of the WW syndicate. He made the trip from Matamata. Coulee (ex Cherry Creek) took her stake earning to $202,572 from eight wins in 26 starts. She has also won the gr 3 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes. She led early in the 1600m race on Saturday, then trailed and came along the inner in the run home to regain the lead near the 250m and win by a length and a quarter. Tommy Tucker was gallant in defeat under 60kg. He raced handy three wide after starting from barrier 12 and showed up four wide to lead at the 350m.

Brian Anderton is now the most successful trainer in the 44 year history of the White Robe Lodge Handicap with four wins in the race. He has also won with A Gordon For Me in 1993 and 94 and Perceptible in 2002. Shane has been a training partner since the 1994 win.

WRL had won the previous race, a $25,000 rating 75 1400m with Willow. It was the third win of the season for Willow, a 4yr-old mare by Gallant Guru - Woodini bred and raced by WRL stud managers Wayne and Karen Stewart with 10 others.

Perceptive, a 4yr-old mare by Raise The Flag from Perceptible, cleared maiden ranks for WRL with a win over 2000m at Gore on Thursday when Fascinate also won for the stable. Perceptible has also left the winners Anudjawun (Australia), Dr Sykes and Fortune Spirit. It was the fifth win for Fascinate, a Falkirk - Zerperfluous mare raced by Brian and Lorraine and Parr Bloodstock.