“Lemming Caesar, its all I need to say”
An unusually straightforward response from a racing manager to the question ‘how do you think the final has worked out?’
Tuesday night featured the semi finals of the Gain Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory over 500m at Sheffield. All three favourites were turned over and the biggest priced winner of the trio, Michael O’Donnell’s Lemming Caesar clocked the fastest time of the night/year with a 28.52 win over the 500m course.
He was followed home by Candy Man whose litter brother Nipsey Hustle was just three spots slower in the previous semi final. Maximum Security landed the first semi thus ensuring four local runners in next Tuesday’s decider.
Racing manager Andrew Mascarenhas had highlighted the chances of Caesar before both qualifiers and thought the dog – who began life in A6 at Henlow – was overpriced in both rounds. He came into the competition on the back of a 12-1 open race victory and followed up at 11-4 and 8-1.
Andrew said: “I’m guessing that the bookies looked the calibre of the opposition, Candy Man and Bombardier, and thought he was up against it. I thought he had a good chance and has an even better chance in the final. I gather some of the locals are on at very big prices ante post.
“He is ideally drawn in one and should get a decent run. He certainly wasn’t coming back over the 500; in fact nothing was getting near him. I thought Nipsey Hustle ran very well but I am not convinced that Candy Man will see out the trip.
“It looks made for Lemming Caesar and there will be a lot of sentiment running with him. Michael lost his wife Barbara not so long ago and has had a rough time. Hopefully Caesar and put a few smiles on faces.”
Maximum Security has since been withdrawn lame from the final with a sprained hock
