Racing: Grey toughs out Messenger

It is just as well Mi Muchacho can win races, because he wouldn't win any personality contests.

The four-year-old capped a remarkable season by overcoming a tough trip to win the $100,000 Messenger Championship at Alexandra Park last night.

His victory could also earn him the New Zealand four-year-old pacer of the year honours.

After being eased back to last he moved three wide at the 1600m point and sat parked to outlast a very gutsy Likmesiah, who sat three wide outside him for the last 1400m, with Winforu coming from the one-one for third.

The win capped an incredible rise to group one victory for the grey pocket battleship, trained by small-time Morrinsville horseman Dick Anderson.

Anderson bred the gelding from his former stable star Mi Muchacha Mi Muchacho's unusual grey colouring comes from his sire Wilcos Kosby.

But exactly where he gets his attitude from is a bit harder to work out.

Mi Muchacho not only hates losing, he hates being bothered.

Before last night's race his stall at Alexandra Park was adorned with signs warning fans not to go too close because he bites.

It seemed to work.

He takes that same aggression on to the track with him, attacking his rivals at ever-increasing speed over the last lap of his races to run their sprint out of their legs.

After the race winning driver Peter Ferguson, who is no stranger to group one success, heaped praise on Anderson's training performance.

"I don't think people realise what a phenomenal job Dick has done with this horse," said Ferguson in reference to Mi Muchacho's battle with growing pains this season.

"He is a great little horse with a big heart."

Anderson will now have to decide whether to chase the New Zealand Cup with Mi Muchacho or wait for the Auckland Cup on his favourite track on New Year's Eve.

While beaten, Likmesiah was outstanding in finishing second.

"Being trapped out there cost us the race," said trainer-driver Mark Purdon.

"I didn't really want to follow Mi Muchacho around but he started to get a bit keen back in the field so I had to go.

"I think if you reversed the runs the result may have been reversed too."

Driver Maurice McKendry was also pleased with the run of Winforu in third but admitted he had no excuses after the first two home had harder runs.

The result was no good news for TAB bookmakers, who were swamped with bets on Mi Muchacho, even though he opened at $2.75 and still paid $2.50 on the tote.

Ferguson obviously enjoyed helping the punters beat the bookies.

"To all those multi bettors out there, keep giving it to them," he boomed in his acceptance speech.