Saturday, 19 Aug, 2023, by Peter Quilty
ON THE ROAD TO THE ‘HOLY GRAIL’
Many coursing devotees ‘spend a lifetime trying to get their hands on the holy grail’.
However, Matt Lanigan, 30, is ‘seeking fortune and glory’ in the Waterloo Cup for a third time!
Lanigan ‘stumbled on the holy grail’ as a part-owner – with his father, Gerald – of 2013 winner, Zambora Blueboy.
The Lanigans – along with Nick O’Brien and AFL’s Crouch brothers (Brad and Matt) – also part-owned 2015 winner, Rylee’s Marshall.
Both Zambora Blueboy and Rylee’s Marshall were trained by Graham Whitford.
But this year, as the sesquicentennial (150th) Waterloo Cup kicks off at Lang Lang on Sunday, Lanigan will once again be attempting to continue ‘a hell of a story’ – this time as trainer.
Lanigan has All On Merrett, Unique Destiny and Tom Keeping in Week 1 of the time-honoured event.
And he’s leaving no stone unturned in yet another quest to ‘wake up in the morning from the strangest dream’.
Last Sunday, Lanigan left Rowsley at 8am to trial a team of nine – including the three mentioned above – at Lang Lang at 10.30am and got back to base by 2pm. It was approximately a 300km round trip, and you don’t have to be Archimedes to calculate it was a six-hour chunk out of his day.
“It’s the one-on-one aspect… It also helps with their chasing and confidence.”
But he returned home like ‘he was in the biggest army the world has ever seen’.
“All On Merrett is my best chance in the Waterloo Cup but in saying that he’s probably up against the series favourite, Rock Me Rocco, in the first course,” Lanigan said.
“Unique Destiny has officially coursed at Lang Lang in 16.60sec, but All On Merrett trialled quicker (he was best of the nine). Both were defeated semi-finalists in the Victorian Derby, with All On Merrett going down to eventual winner Swinton.
“Tom Keeping was a little bit behind Unique Destiny in his trial.”
Lanigan added All On Merrett’s coursing debut was at Longwood in the Victorian Derby series.
“Lang Lang will suit him better as it’s longer and more open. He takes a bit of time to get going; he’s a long strider and powerful.
“I trialled mainly for All On Merrett. You’re going up against seasoned coursing performers, so the benefit of ‘having a look’ is immense.”
Lanigan says, “coursing is super for dogs that also race on ‘circle’ tracks”.
“It’s the one-on-one aspect and the drag lure stimulates them. It also helps with their chasing and confidence.”
You could say coursing courses through the Lanigan family’s veins.
“It’s in our genes,” Lanigan said. “I first started coursing seriously when I was 18.
“It was my dad’s dream to win a Waterloo Cup. My great-grandfather and grandfather were also coursing enthusiasts.
“I’ve always enjoyed the day out – the whole experience. It’s a nice, relaxed day.”
Lanigan has won two Group 1s on the ‘circle’ – 2016 Hobart Thousand (Zipping Bruiser) and 2019 Sale Cup (Weblec Eagle).
“But if I was lucky enough to win the 150th Waterloo Cup, it would be very special,” he said. “To win one as the trainer would be amazing.
“Coursing was where it all started for me. I learned so much from Graham (Whitford).”
