Promises
Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A day that started on a winning note with impressive juvenile winner Bella Gioia got even better for Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie when he closed out proceedings at Te Rapa with victories by Promises and Bee Tee Junior to give him a winning treble on Saturday.
Ritchie admitted he was confident the team could perform well although the tricky Slow8 surface did give him some concerns prior to raceday.
"I thought we had some good winning chances but at this time of the year you just never know as the tracks can be pretty tricky with the rain on them," he said.
"We walked the home straight on Friday and thought the best place to be would be out wider and that's how it panned out with all of our runners."
Ritchie was delighted with the performance of Keeper mare Promises who finally obtained reward for her consistency after a string of minor placings.
"She is a very tough mare with any amount of ability but she's also her own worst enemy," he admitted.
"She just hasn't been able to settle in her races so her record could be even better if she could just relax a little early on. In saying that she has been better during this campaign so I do think there could be a nice race for her over a mile or more if the penny has dropped.
"She's probably at that stage where the broodmare paddock is an attractive option but I hope we can have her for another season as I do think she can win at stakes level in the right race."
Ritchie is also looking at some late spring riches with the consistent Bee Tee Junior who scored in the last race of the day.
"He is a very clean winded horse who just thrives over ground so I can see him being the type who could be a New Zealand Cup candidate if he can get his rating up," he said.
"He goes on most track surfaces but I think we will try and avoid a really deep track as that would put paid to any late spring plans we have for him. He had a month between runs and that will be the pattern for him going forward." - NZ Racing Desk
Ritchie admitted he was confident the team could perform well although the tricky Slow8 surface did give him some concerns prior to raceday.
"I thought we had some good winning chances but at this time of the year you just never know as the tracks can be pretty tricky with the rain on them," he said.
"We walked the home straight on Friday and thought the best place to be would be out wider and that's how it panned out with all of our runners."
Ritchie was delighted with the performance of Keeper mare Promises who finally obtained reward for her consistency after a string of minor placings.
"She is a very tough mare with any amount of ability but she's also her own worst enemy," he admitted.
"She just hasn't been able to settle in her races so her record could be even better if she could just relax a little early on. In saying that she has been better during this campaign so I do think there could be a nice race for her over a mile or more if the penny has dropped.
"She's probably at that stage where the broodmare paddock is an attractive option but I hope we can have her for another season as I do think she can win at stakes level in the right race."
Ritchie is also looking at some late spring riches with the consistent Bee Tee Junior who scored in the last race of the day.
"He is a very clean winded horse who just thrives over ground so I can see him being the type who could be a New Zealand Cup candidate if he can get his rating up," he said.
"He goes on most track surfaces but I think we will try and avoid a really deep track as that would put paid to any late spring plans we have for him. He had a month between runs and that will be the pattern for him going forward." - NZ Racing Desk