Ramarro
Trish Dunell
Accomplished winter performer Ramarro is in career best form, but part-owner and trainer Peter Lock does have reservations about his chances on Saturday.
The lightly-raced six-year-old will attempt to post consecutive wins when he steps out in the Skycity Hamilton 1400 at the Waikato meeting.
"He loves bad ground and he's all set to go, but he's not that good left-handed or at Te Rapa," Lock said.
"He's been there before and Danielle Johnson rode him and she said he's not that happy that way around.
"Te Rapa can tip up a lot of good horses, but it's only a small field though and he's drawn well so hopefully he can just tuck in behind them."
Lock said the timing of the Te Rapa race fitted in well with his plan to take Ramarro south.
"We're trying to space his races to get through to the Winter Cup so he's going to have to put his hand up on Saturday to warrant that."
Ramarro took his record to four wins from 23 starts at his most recent appearance when he was successful in an open sprint at Ellerslie.
"He's been a very weak, immature horse and he can get stressed and uptight on race day," Lock said.
"He only had four races last winter - after he won at Auckland I put him out for a fortnight and he came back with a bit of filling in a fetlock joint.
"The vet said he needed four or six weeks out, but by the time I brought him back again the tracks would have been too firm so he stayed out." – NZ Racing Desk.
The lightly-raced six-year-old will attempt to post consecutive wins when he steps out in the Skycity Hamilton 1400 at the Waikato meeting.
"He loves bad ground and he's all set to go, but he's not that good left-handed or at Te Rapa," Lock said.
"He's been there before and Danielle Johnson rode him and she said he's not that happy that way around.
"Te Rapa can tip up a lot of good horses, but it's only a small field though and he's drawn well so hopefully he can just tuck in behind them."
Lock said the timing of the Te Rapa race fitted in well with his plan to take Ramarro south.
"We're trying to space his races to get through to the Winter Cup so he's going to have to put his hand up on Saturday to warrant that."
Ramarro took his record to four wins from 23 starts at his most recent appearance when he was successful in an open sprint at Ellerslie.
"He's been a very weak, immature horse and he can get stressed and uptight on race day," Lock said.
"He only had four races last winter - after he won at Auckland I put him out for a fortnight and he came back with a bit of filling in a fetlock joint.
"The vet said he needed four or six weeks out, but by the time I brought him back again the tracks would have been too firm so he stayed out." – NZ Racing Desk.