Run Dan Run! Lieutenant takes first test

Lieutenant Dan, you ain’t got no legs!”.

Painfully obvious yet sweetly concerned, Forrest Gump’s comical observation of his commanding officer from the 1994 US blockbuster film is only one of the countless quotable lines uttered by one of cinema’s most loved dimwits.

On Wednesday at Canterbury a powerfully-built bay gelding who shares the name of Gump’s superior had his first start for Team Pfieffer, and this Dan has shown better use of his legs than his infamous namesake.

Earlier in the week neighbouring trainer Bjorn Baker paraded a plain brown gelding around his stables after bestowing him the title of “Horsey McHorseface”, following on from the success of the internet-named vessel “Boaty McBoatface” that made headlines around the world.

Naming racehorses continues to perplex the industry, unearthing both the witty and bizarre when registration forms are submitted each year.

While most owners try to give their prized racehorse a name befitting a champion, somehow the irrelevant sneaks into contention and horses like Mr Horseface carry on racing’s odd tradition.

Lieutenant Dan is by first season sire Smart Missile, the gifted sprint son of Fastnet Rock that retired to Arrowfield Stud, exceeding all expectations in the sale ring off a $22k service.

Trained by Anthony Cummings, the Gooree-owned colt inflicted the only defeat on Champion Sepoy at two in the Todman Stakes and was Group 1 placed in the Golden Rose at three.

Smart Missile’s dam Comical Smile is herself a half-sister to brilliant sprinter and sire Northern Meteor, a stallion whom we never really saw the best of before his untimely death in 2013.

Lieutenant Dan, from the Anabaa mare Anadan, contested a hot field in the 2yo maiden handicap over 1100m. Dan jumped well but lacked early pace, trailing the speedy leader Purarri from the Waterhouse juvenile megafactory worse than midfield.

Around the tight turns of the Canterbury track he made great ground in the straight once balanced and showed plenty of merit in a fast run race under Travis Wolfgram.

"We will see plenty of improvement from that run at his next start, I think he will be better suited over more ground" commented trainer David Pfieffer.

"He hit the line really well after looking a bit flat for a stride or two in the straight. He's a nice horse with a good future".

The Lieutenant’s latest trial, when a closing third at Warwick Farm over 800m, showed plenty of progress from his first trial when racing greenly to finish sixth.

Team Pfieffer will take stable warrior Tahitian Black to Rosehill on Saturday.

Blackie has been allocated 61.5kg in the BM85 Handicap over 1100m but if his latest trial is any indication, when a fighting second under his own steam over 800m, he will be right in the finish.