YESTERDAY’S MRC P.B. Lawrence Stakes (Gr.2 1400m) proved to be a triumph for Vinery Stud sire Mossman and More Than Ready who provided two of this first three placegetters including the winner, Second Effort.
A typically durable six-year-old son of Mossman, Second Effort relished to soft conditions to come away for an emphatic 1.3-lens win over Zamorar with More Than Ready gelding, Ready To Rip, close up in third.
Second Effort took his tally of wins to 9 from 22 starts (including 5 placings) underlining what a genuine model of consistency he has been for connections who have so far pocketed over $430,000 in earnings.
“He’s had a few problems over the years so we sent him to a young guy over at Phillip Island to see if he could do something for him,” Trainer Clinton McDonald said of Second Effort, “He did a great job.”
Second Effort has not raced since finishing sixth in the Sir John Monash Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Caulfield on 14 July. His last win had come in the Wangoom Handicap (Listed, 1200m) at Warrnambool on 2 May.
Traditionally the Lawrence, previously the JJ Liston Stakes, has launched dozens of spring campaigns, its winners including Apache Cat (Lion Cavern), Pompeii Ruler (Genuine), Mahogany (Last Tycoon), Dr Grace (Sir Tristram) and Sydeston (St Briavels).
Of the stayers who were using yesterday’s race as a pipe opener, Fiumicino (Zabeel) finished ninth and the Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) runner-up Seville (Galileo) was tenth, neither of them warming up on the heavy track.
Second Effort is among 245 individual winners (from 375 starters) and 20 stakeswinners sired by Mossman alongside Group 1 performers Ofcourseican, Buffering, Pure Energy, Segments and Love Conquers All.
