Amarula
Race Images Palmerston North
An uncertain long-range weather forecast has swayed Peter McKay into a return trip to Ruakaka for Amarula.
The Matamata trainer was delighted with the four-year-old's resuming victory on the course last time out and he will attempt a repeat performance in Saturday's New Zealand Bloodstock Finance Sprint.
"I wasn't going to go up there again, but the weather report suggested there might be rain at Hastings for the Windsor Park Plate so I decided on Ruakaka," McKay said.
"It may have been a bit tough taking on the good ones at weight-for-age at this stage anyway, he's only a young horse."
Amarula, who won the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas last season, will come back in distance from 1400 to 1200 metres on Saturday following his last-start Rating 85 victory, but McKay is unconcerned.
"That shouldn't be any hassle for him," he said. "He's really well, the run hasn't knocked him and the timing is good with three weeks to his next assignment at Hastings."
He will be accompanied south to the last day of the carnival by the in-form three-year-old Barcelo.
"He's feeling pretty good so we're really happy with him," McKay said.
"He's not a hard horse to keep up to the mark fitness-wise so we'll have a crack at the Hawke's Bay Guineas next.
"The 1400 metres should suit him now he's relaxing much better in his races."
Barcelo has won two of his eight starts, including a last-start defeat of Mystery Show and Wyndspelle at Ruakaka, and he has yet to fail to weigh in. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Matamata trainer was delighted with the four-year-old's resuming victory on the course last time out and he will attempt a repeat performance in Saturday's New Zealand Bloodstock Finance Sprint.
"I wasn't going to go up there again, but the weather report suggested there might be rain at Hastings for the Windsor Park Plate so I decided on Ruakaka," McKay said.
"It may have been a bit tough taking on the good ones at weight-for-age at this stage anyway, he's only a young horse."
Amarula, who won the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas last season, will come back in distance from 1400 to 1200 metres on Saturday following his last-start Rating 85 victory, but McKay is unconcerned.
"That shouldn't be any hassle for him," he said. "He's really well, the run hasn't knocked him and the timing is good with three weeks to his next assignment at Hastings."
He will be accompanied south to the last day of the carnival by the in-form three-year-old Barcelo.
"He's feeling pretty good so we're really happy with him," McKay said.
"He's not a hard horse to keep up to the mark fitness-wise so we'll have a crack at the Hawke's Bay Guineas next.
"The 1400 metres should suit him now he's relaxing much better in his races."
Barcelo has won two of his eight starts, including a last-start defeat of Mystery Show and Wyndspelle at Ruakaka, and he has yet to fail to weigh in. – NZ Racing Desk.