Give Me Five

Young Guns omens galore - by David Brash - 16.02.12
HANSON Senor "had" to win Thursday night's Young Guns (520m) final at Albion Park ... there were too many omens to say he could. First, it was owner-trainer Geoff Allen's 63rd birthday. Second, Hanson Senor was the only progeny sired by Give Me Five in the rich final. The race was sponsored by Terry Hines and Michael Sherlock the owners of Give Me Five. And Hanson Senor (Give Me Five-Hanson Charm) didn't let any of them down by getting up in the very last stride to win by a nose in 30.36 beating Seldom Said with two and a half lengths to Aladdin's Queen in third. It was his eighth win in 17 starts.
Allen is no stranger to winning Young Guns finals. "I ran the quinella years ago (2004) with Hanson Shigga and Hanson Teddy," said Geoff. "When the next one came around Hanson Shigga wasn't eligible, so Hanson Teddy won it." Allen admits he was "a bit surprised" when Hanson Senor got up to win. "I didn't really think he could win out of the five box and with so much early pace in the final. "I was expecting trouble at the first turn. But he got around OK and settled third. He's strong and from then he finished well." Allen will give the dog a week off and then bring him back to Albion Park for the up-coming Group 2 Qld Derby series. The Young Guns final was full of changes. Knocka Down began well and led into the back straight but Seldom Said raced to the front passing the 600m boxes. Hanson Senor emerged out wide in the home straight and just got up on the line. Allen said Hanson Senor had been a constant improver. "He didn't break in all that well but he has just kept improving," said Geoff. "He's a nice dog and strong." Hanson Senor is from the same damline as Geoff's other Young Guns winner Hanson Shigga.