Lasker's Mighty Cup Win “Just Unbelievable”

70-year old Andrew Lasker and partner Kathy were in argument mode on Saturday preparing for a double assault on the Group 3 Darwin Cup (537m) on Sunday night.

They had Cup finalists Mighty Marshall and Sketchy Butler, both of them long-priced outsiders, but it didn't stop each other putting in their “two bobs worth” about how the dogs should be prepared leading into the race, even at that late stage.

But come Sunday night, when Mighty Marshall had pinged to the front and then held off all attempts to run him down, there were no arguments … just wild celebrations.

“The arms were flailing about, cheers going up, it was very exciting, very exciting,” Andrew said.

Mighty Marshall (Kiowa Mon Manny-Cacoethes) scored by a half-length over the fast finishing I'm Explosive with two lengths to Carry On Angel in third. It took his record to m11 wins and 22 placings for $50,000 in stakes.

Andrew paid $6500 for the dog back in May, buying him from Victorian Stefano Cassar after he had shown plenty of ability via wins at Geelong, Sandown, Horsham, Ballarat and Bendigo.

“Stefano rings me every week for a chat and he rang Saturday morning and said if he led he could win the Cup,” Andrew added.

“During the run, he put Vice Grip out early by crossing him, then Sunburst was put out early, Carry On Angel couldn't get past over the back,. and I'm Explosive and the rest of them were bunching up and did themselves no favours.

“On the home turn, someone behind the boxes said ‘you've got it won' but I said I would wait until the number went up into the frame.”

Andrew and Kathy were loaded up with Cup, rugs and elation on the way home.

“The Cup weighs so much I nearly needed a trolley to get it into the house when we got home,” he said. “It will hold pride of place forever now.

“And by this morning we had only watched the replay 100 times.

“It's the biggest thrill. I wanted that one.”

Andrew and Kathy had run second in 2020 with He's All Grunt but it was a “Covid-impacted Cup” and doesn't count according to Andrew. He was collared right on the line.

He also admitted he nominated Mighty Marshall and Sketchy Butler for the series “just to be in it”.

“Special thanks must go to the club, the sponsors, the people who made the rugs and trophy,” he said. “It's unbelievable.”