Tharpa Duster Beats The Odds
Sun Herald
Saturday September 30, 1989
THE last time Tharpa Duster raced at Moonee Valley he had to overcome a float accident to win.
Yesterday he had to survive a protest.
The three-year-old gelding won the Moorabbin Handicap (1,600m), but apprentice Darren Triandafillou on runner-up Legless fired in a protest, alleging interference rounding the home turn to the 150m.
It was the second protest for the day, but stewards deliberated for much longer than they did when Vo Rogue's rider protested against Our Westminster in the Feehan Stakes.
Eventually they dismissed the objection but there is no doubt some interference occurred when Tharpa Duster, making the turn awkwardly, carried Legless out.
The pair continued to brush in the straight, although near the end it was as much Legless running in as Tharpa Duster running out.
Tharpa Duster, backed from 12-1 to 10-1, got the verdict by a long neck over Legless (14-1) with Kyoei God (7-2) 1 1/2 lengths away, third.
Tharpa Duster scored at Moonee Valley in May after having to walk the final few kilometres to the course after his float broke down on the way from Mornington.
The gelding is trained by Peter Healey, who was retelling the tale of woe when the protest siren sounded.
Healey now intends to give Tharpa Duster a crack at the $750,000 HongKong Bank Victoria Derby (2,500m) at Flemington on November 4.
He said he did not really want to take on the champion filly Courtza in the Derby.
"But they are only three-year-olds for 12 months, so you get only one crack at it."
On his way to the Derby, Tharpa Duster will run in the $75,000 Norman Robinson Stakes (2,000m) at Caulfield on October 21.
Healey has no doubt he will stay, but said the question was whether he had enough class.
HORSE TO FOLLOW: Although the protest was dismissed, LEGLESS was definitely unlucky and is still eligible for restricted races.
© 1989 Sun Herald