Yesterday, at Mornington, the 3y.o. chestnut gelding, Couperin, trained by Doug Harrison broke his maiden status at only his fourth race start. By Ne Coupez Pas the name of this horse was selected by part-owner, Carolyn O’Brien, (herself a French lady), in recognition of the great French composer of the 17th. century, Francois Couperin known in his era as “Couperin the Great”.
So much for the history lesson and the difficulty of naming young horses.
Under Doug Harrison’s tutelage and a great front running ride by Wayne Davis, Couperin jumped well and although challenged for the early lead he crossed to the rail inside the first 250 metres of the 1600 metre race and Wayne then dictated the pace. Challengers came as the horses turned for home but Wayne clicked Couperin up a gear on straightening and the heavily supported Peter Moody maiden Ysabelle and the pre-post favourite Drive finished hard but on the line Couperin had control to win by ½ length. It was a great
front running ride by Wayne Davis.
The win was especially pleasing for the O’Brien family who race the gelding and bred him from a mating in the EI year of their good race mare Tendue with Ne Coupez Pas.
Couperin was the 57th. individual winner bred by the O’Brien’s Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm at Corinella and more importantly he is a ½ brother to recent city winner, Alcohol and has another ½ brother by Bianconi being offered at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale in March.
