Dependable New Zealand-bred six-year-old Lawrence continued his outstanding form in Western Australia for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond when he was favourite at $2.20 and had to be driven desperately by Ryan Warwick to get up and snatch a last-stride victory by a half-head from Medieval Man in the 2096m Choices Flooring Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
A winner at five of his 28 New Zealand starts, Lawrence, a son of Shadow Play, has now raced nine times in WA for six wins and three seconds.
He started from the 10m line and Warwick had him travelling in sixth position in the one-wide line before bringing him home with a determined three-wide burst to score narrowly.
Medieval Man, trained by Michael Young and driven by Emily Suvaljko, was gallant in defeat. With $41 outsider Sarge setting the pace, Medieval Man raced without cover before he took the lead 450m from home. Then, 230m later Gary Hall Jnr sent Nota Bene Denario to the front before Medieval Man fought back grimly to regain the lead in the home straight.
by Ken Casellas