Ready Eddie (pink sleeves)
Trish Dunell
A change of plan will see the feature jumping race contender Ready Eddie step out on the flat at Stratford on Thursday.
The seven-year-old hasn't raced since he beat San Pedro and Nancho Lass in the Waikato Hurdles in May with an unseasonably good track at Hastings forcing trainer Laura Knight to alter the gelding's programme.
Ready Eddie will be ridden by apprentice Rebecca Goldsbury in the McDonald Real Estate Congratulations Stratford RC 125 Years.
"He was going to run in the Hawkes Bay Hurdles, but the track was too good and they would have gone too quickly for him," she said.
"He's full of life and really well so he's going to have this run at Stratford and then go to Te Aroha."
Ready Eddie will then be set for a return trip to Riccarton, where he has won both on the flat and over fences, for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles.
The son of Yamanin Vital will be opposed at Stratford by another major jumping winner, the 2013 Great Northern Steeplechase hero Rangatira, who suffered a tendon injury after he added the 2014 Wellington Steeplechase to his record.
He recently resumed after a long break at Waverley and will be ridden again by Cory Perrett. – NZ Racing Desk.
The seven-year-old hasn't raced since he beat San Pedro and Nancho Lass in the Waikato Hurdles in May with an unseasonably good track at Hastings forcing trainer Laura Knight to alter the gelding's programme.
Ready Eddie will be ridden by apprentice Rebecca Goldsbury in the McDonald Real Estate Congratulations Stratford RC 125 Years.
"He was going to run in the Hawkes Bay Hurdles, but the track was too good and they would have gone too quickly for him," she said.
"He's full of life and really well so he's going to have this run at Stratford and then go to Te Aroha."
Ready Eddie will then be set for a return trip to Riccarton, where he has won both on the flat and over fences, for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles.
The son of Yamanin Vital will be opposed at Stratford by another major jumping winner, the 2013 Great Northern Steeplechase hero Rangatira, who suffered a tendon injury after he added the 2014 Wellington Steeplechase to his record.
He recently resumed after a long break at Waverley and will be ridden again by Cory Perrett. – NZ Racing Desk.
