A Corporate Decision

Corporate Larrikin earned a winter spell with his win in the $60,000 Fitzpatrick Plate (1200m) at Albany on Sunday.

The four-year-old was having his 11th start in a racing campaign that started at Mt Barker last December 6. During this time he won three at Albany and was also successful at Ascot and Mt Barker lifting his stake earnings to $99,283.

Corporate Larrikin has been successful to 1205m, the longest distance he has attempted.

“It was always in the back of my mind to lift the distance of his races,” said Smith. “But he was not mentally ready and we were very patient.

“The Fitzpatrick Plate showed that he is turning from a boy into a man. I told owner Colin Reynolds we would not see the best of him till he was a five-year-old. We look like ending up with a serious horse.”

Reynolds, a Broome businessman, paid $4,500 for Corporate Larrikin – because of Smith’s faith in his sire Trade Fair.

“I was taken with Trade Fair as a racehorse and always thought he would develop into a top sire,” said Smith. “I kept at my owners about buying his progeny. Colin took the advice and it is paying off nicely.”

Pedigree supports Smith’s plans to eventually tackle increased distance with Corporate Larrikin.

Trade Fair’s 151 individual winners – at 58.1 per cent – have been successful from 1000m to 3800m.

Corporate Larrikin’s dam, Corporate Lady, only won to 1200m but her dam, Ciana Belle, is by Balmerino and her grand-dam, Bragle Lady, is by Battle Wagon – both accomplished staying sires. And this is the family of Desert Chief, the winner of 19 races, from five furlongs to 13 1/4-furlongs, taking the Canterbury Cup, Invercargill Cup, Riverton Cup, Oamaru Autumn Cup and Oamaru Winter Cup in New Zealand and the San Marcos Handicap and Escondido Handicap in California; Regal Empress, winner of the New Zealand Oaks, and Storm Attack, who was successful in the Seymour Cup.