Speed puts brakes on trainer’s retirement

Unbeaten three-year-old Release The Speed has helped stave off retirement for trainer Merilyn Anderson.

Anderson had considered handing in her licence this season but Release The Speed changed her mind.

A debut victory at Ballarat on November 3 was followed by success at Moonee Valley on November 14 and now Release The Speed heads to Flemington on Saturday for a 1200m race.

Thoughts of retirement had been swirling in Anderson’s head after a lean trot but Release The Speed entered her stable, showing promise from the start.

“I’m not getting any younger,” Anderson said.

“I thought `can I keep going with these crazy young animals?’ but thought I had better with this one and he hasn’t let us down.”

Anderson trained the dam of Release The Speed, Special Deece, who she described as a lovely big mare, as well as her offspring which includes a two-year-old half-sister to Release The Speed by Magnus that has just come into work.

Saturday’s race will determine the future for Release The Speed with Anderson looking to the autumn carnival with the son of Bel Esprit.

She says the three-year-old is as “green as grass” but while he’s winning she will press on with his campaign.

The horse will race on Saturday and possibly once more before he is given a freshen up.

With three or four horses in work, Anderson says she is finding it increasingly hard to be competitive in racing and if it wasn’t for the support of Release The Speed’s owner-breeder Ross Lava she may have retired.

“I’ve got a beautiful little property at Seymour that I’ve been training from for the last 13 years,” Anderson said.

“If I’ve got the horses then I’ll keep pushing the old body.

“We’ve got high hopes he might be a little bit special and he might well be the one I’ve been looking for in my 30 years of training.”

In an open betting race, Release The Speed is an $8 chance with The Bowler heading markets at $5.50.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au

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