by Peter Wharton

Artistic Fella, the Meadowlands Pace winner and Breeders Crown champion who now stands at Empire Stallions in Victoria, Australia, was represented by his first winner when the 2-year-old gelding Dashing Dan Lombo emerged successful in a heat of The Lombo at Shepparton, Victoria on Tuesday night (Jan. 8).

The tall gelding, who had finished as the runner-up in his first two tries, made full use of his pole line draw to lead from the outset.

Following a flying 58.9 second first half, Dashing Dan Lombo looked in some danger of defeat rounding the home turn but he fought back resolutely to win by 1.4 metres. His mile rate of 2:00.1 was easily the fastest of the four Lombo heats.

Bred and raced by Mick Lombardo’s Lombo Standardbreds, Dashing Dan Lombo is the first foal out of the Australian Pacing Gold heat winner Lady Pia Lombo, a Lotsa Clout mare.

Dashing Dan Lombo is one of the first Australian crop of 80 foals sired by Artistic Fella that has already produced a winner and a placegetter from three starters.