Laurie Richardson back in winning touch

By Jordan Gerrans

Beaudesert's Laurie Richardson was back in the winner’s enclosure following a smart training performance that broke a lengthy victory drought at Ipswich on Thursday afternoon.

La Amigo has been through a few different stables in the Sunshine State and has recently transferred to Richardson’s team.

In his fourth run for the barn, apprentice hoop Rob Thorburn pinched a winning break before the home turn in the Open Handicap and the seven-year-old gelding delivered.

La Amigo’s victory was the first for Richardson since the 2019-20 season.

The trainer took almost 140 starters to the races between drinks. 

And, for the horse, it was his first win since May of 2023.

In his mid-70s these days, Richardson plays around with four gallopers at his stable and was pleased to see the seven-year-old gelding break through.

“We have spent a bit of time with him,” Richardson said.

“He is a horse that loves people and work – he gets both of those at home.”

La Amigo was previously in the care of Stuart Kendrick and Michael Morrison in South East Queensland before landing with Richardson late last year.

The sprinter claimed the feature Bat Out Of Hell for Caloundra’s Kendrick back in 2023 over the speedy 850 metre journey.

Thorburn fired La Amigo out of the machine to be on the speed in the early exchanges before taking control of the race in the middle stages.

“I have been itching to get him to 1200 metres and I knew if he got a good run in the race, he would be thereabouts,” Richardson said.

“He does a lot of work – he loves it.”

The 26-year-old Thorburn rode the gelding at his previous start at the Gold Coast where he finished a touch over a length behind the winner over 1000 metres.

“I was confident throughout the whole race,” Thorburn said.

“He raced at the Gold Coast about a month ago and he was very unlucky at the top of the straight and in the concluding stages of the race.

“I knew we would be able to skip away at the 500 metre mark this time, there was no point restraining him.

“I let him get through his gears and I thought we would be a bit vulnerable in the last 50 metres but he really put them away.”

Thorburn praised the training effort of Richardson to get another victory out of La Amigo after he went 14 starts and almost two years without success.

“He is going very well,” the apprentice hoop said of La Amigo.

“Laurie is doing an absolutely amazing job with him by getting him to switch off and then he is able to settle so he can finish off his races.”