PAGAN’S BIG PLANS
“I know training methods have changed, but it’s not going to do my bloke any harm and I think a run on the course proper, with matchday conditions, is only going to benefit my guy. “He is fit and ready to go, and he was going to have another trial anyway so he might as well run in a real race. He has only had seven starts so the experience will do him the world of good. While it will be too short for him, it will be great if we see him running on at the end doing his best work at the finish.” Regular rider Lachie King, the apprentice who triumphed aboard Johnny in the Derby, is out injured after a race fall at Wodonga so Pagan is looking for a temporary replacement in the Aurie’s Star. He is determined to reunite the partnership for the rest of the spring when King recovers.
“Lachie got injured at Wodonga, broke three ribs and smashed himself up so he will be out of action for a while.
“Lachie will be back on board as soon as he is fit. He has done that much work with my horses, not only Johnny Get Angry, but he has done a hell of a lot of work with Turn It Up Tommy (Pagan's Derby hopeful for this year) and he comes in every morning.
“I wouldn't get anybody who is as committed and loyal as Lachie, so he is first cab off the rank for me.”
Pagan’s high regard for the young stayer made it an easy decision not to run him in the autumn, to allow him time to develop with this spring in mind. “He had no injuries. He came in in the autumn and was in work for maybe six-and-a-half weeks and one morning he came out scratchy.
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