Lean Mean Machine, aided by a brilliant Tye Angland ride, proved he will take beating in the Golden Rose with an impressive win on Saturday.
Trainer Chris Waller had three promising colts in the Group 2 $200,000 Run To The Rose (1200m) and it was Lean Mean Machine who came from well back on the turn at Rosehill Gardens to run down favourite Graff.
Waller said Lean Mean Machine is “obviously a very good horse”.
“I know Tye has been in love with him since he’s been involved with the colt,” Waller said. “He rode him in a trial here one day and said he didn’t want to get on any other three-year-old in the spring.”
Lean Mean Machine ($14) weaved through the field in the straight and sprinted powerfully to overhaul a gallant Graff ($3), scoring by three-quarters of a length. Early leader Jonker ($13) held on well for third, a length away.
Angland said Lean Mean Machine was the best looking colt in the pre-race parade and said: “He performed that way as well.
“He’s all muscle, great attitude, awesome racehorse. I didn’t do any work from the gate. It really got sticky on the point of the corner, I was going that good I was nearly running up their backsides and I had to get him out.
“I didn’t expect him to pick up that many lengths the way he did under just hands and heels but he’s a serious racehorse.”
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors slashed Lean Mean Machine’s odds for the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) in two weeks from $26 to $8, joining stablemate The Autumn Sun on the second line of betting. – Ray Thomas, The Daily Telegraph
