3 minute read

Hall of Fame trainer Barry Campbell dominated the Devonport meeting on Sunday preparing four winners that included his highly promising sprinter, Julius.

In Brief

• Campbell celebrates 10-race meeting with four winners.
• Julius comes of age.
• Lieutenant Lewis makes it a real family win

Julius made it three wins in succession when he defied a wide barrier (10) to cross and lead in the Simons Design Centre BM76 over 1150m.

When rider Anthony Darmanin asked for an effort at the top of the straight the Time for War gelding left his rivals in his wake, going on to score by over three lengths from Lesnar and Dark Wanderer.

"I think he is a real good horse because he's continued to improve at every run this time in and he has a history of issues that kept him off the scene for quite a while," Campbell said.

"We've persevered and looked after him and now we are going to reap the rewards.

"I'm not sure where we go from here, but I'll make that decision after I see how he comes through this run.

"I see him as a potential Newmarket horse and maybe the shorter weight-for-age races around Christmas and New Year."

Darmanin was thrilled with the gelding's effort.

"I wasn't worried about the wide barrier at all, and we were able to go forward and find the lead and he dictated the race," Darmanin said.

"That was without a doubt the best he has been this time in, and I think today he proved beyond doubt he is a very serious horse."

It was one three wins for Darmanin who also teamed up with Campbell's mare Zeva Royale that made it two wins in succession in the Carlton Draught Class 1 handicap over 1350m and he ended the day with an all-the-way win aboard the Brad Franklin-trained Tidal.

Campbell began the day with a win from his two-year-old first-starter Lieutenant Lewis that was strong late to defeat the heavily backed odds-on favourite Muscle Up from the Adam Trinder yard in the Tasbred Bonus 2YO Maiden.

Lieutenant Lewis (Zululand-Vivacious) was bred by the trainer's daughter, Jess Campbell, making it a real family affair.

The trainer said the leggy gelding would be sent for a spell and he hopes he can contest some of the feature three-year-old races next season.

Campbell's other winner was Fife and Drum that rattled home with Dravid Pires aboard to win the Kevin Sharkie Maiden over 1350m.

Fife and Drum was sent to Campbell about three months ago by Siggy Carr to give the gelding a change of environment and it obviously worked.

However, Fife and Drum gave connections a scare before the race when he whipped around and dislodged Pires on the way to the barrier but thankfully it was a harmless fall and the rider and horse made up for the mishap.