News

Langridge Street stuns punters, not trainer

20th Jan 2013

Racing Network - Adrian Dunn - Saturday, 19 January 2013

LANGRIDGE Street stunned most punters with his blowout win in the Leonard Handicap today at Flemington, but not trainer Michael Hibbs.

While Langridge Street paid $61 on the TAB and started at $51, Hibbs thought the five-year-old would acquit himself well.

Hibbs explained that he thought Langridge Street had done enough heading into his first-up run in the Standish Handicap, where he finished 14th in the field of 16.

He noted that Langridge Street still ran 1:10.0 for the 1200 m in the Standish Handicap.

“He had his head sideways the whole way,” Hibbs said.

“I knew he was much better over the 1400 metres and I knew if he got a burying run he’s got a really good sprint.”

Langridge Street was trapped three deep with Goldstone and Infinite Energy enjoying much easier runs inside him.

But, it was Langridge Street that extended the best when it mattered most as he drew clear to win by three-quarters of a length from Goldstone with Infinite Energy a half neck away third.

Hibbs said that Langridge Street, a $20,000 purchase at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, had been “knocking on the door to be a nice horse” and the Elvstroem stock seem to take time to reach their potential.

“Each preparation he seems to have got better so I hope he keeps getting better,” Hibbs said.