Intruder's form eases pain of Rising blow
Racing's rollercoaster has taken trainer Trevor Andrews and owners Ken and Helen Gregson on a bittersweet ride in the past week.
Their sprinter The Rising is fighting for his life after a devastating knee injury last week, followed by a case of laminitis.
The Rising, a winner at seven of 12 starts, shattered his knee after a wind operation and will not race again.
"He came out of the anaesthetic and flipped out," Ken Gregson said yesterday. "His racing days are over."
The Gregsons are also part-owners of the Andrews-trained Palace Intruder, who made an impressive debut in the Westspeed 2YO Plate (1000m) at Ascot yesterday.
Palace Intruder ($5.50) jumped straight to the front for jockey Paul Harvey and blew his rivals away, scoring by 4¾ lengths in a sharp 58.06sec.
Hellyer ($3.60 favourite) and Avidus ($7) filled the placings.
"Hopefully this one gives us a bit of compensation," Gregson said. "It was pretty special."
Palace Intruder is likely to be aimed at the $250,000 Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic (1100m) on February 15.
Andrews paid $120,000 for the son of Oratorio, a brother to the trainer's progressive sprinter King Of The Palace, at last year's Perth yearling sale.
Their dam, Palace Alice, also produced 2010 Perth Cup (2400m) winner Lords Ransom.
Trainer Damian Winn, who is deputising for the holidaying Andrews, was hit by tragedy on Tuesday.
His Belmont Park debut winner, King Casanova, died at trackwork after a heart attack.
Winn confirmed the Andrews stable's big opinion of Palace Intruder.
"He's a good looking animal and he's got a bit of a motor," Winn said.
Harvey notched a double yesterday when Cut Snake won the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1400m) first-up.
