Blathwayt
Race Images Palmerston North
Opaki trainer Alby MacGregor is hoping the weather forecasters are on the money with their predictions for this weekend as he contemplates a two-pronged attack on the last day of the Hastings Spring Carnival.
MacGregor has last year's Listed Feilding Gold Cup winner Blathwayt ready to make his season debut in the Gr. 3 Spring Sprint (1400m) while progressive intermediate galloper Finn is set to contest the rating 65 1600 metre contest on the day.
"I've been watching the forecasts over the last little while and they have been saying there could be rain around which would suit me just fine," he admitted.
"Blathwayt handles most tracks while Finn will definitely be suited if the track is slow or worse. I certainly won't be complaining if they do get it right with their predictions."
MacGregor has high hopes for stable star Blathwayt who scored first up at the same meeting last year and comes into this Saturday with a win at the Foxton trials last Friday under his belt.
"He has come back in good shape after his winter break and has pleased me with his progress," he said.
"We gave him a jump-out a couple of weeks ago which he won and then he stepped up and won his trial over 1200 metres nicely as well.
"He did win fresh-up over a mile last year at this meeting but that was in rating 85 company whereas this time it will be against the real good ones. It will be a big ask but he is nicely forward for it so I'm hoping he can go well."
MacGregor will follow a similar path to last season with the seven-year-old gelding with the defence of his Feilding Gold Cup title one of the aims for this campaign.
"Provided he does come up well I'm keen to take him back to Riccarton in November for the New Zealand Cup," advised.
"He didn't go as well as he could in it last year so it would be nice to go back and make amends. He won the Feilding Cup on the way to Riccarton so that will be part of the plan again this time." - NZ Racing Desk
MacGregor has last year's Listed Feilding Gold Cup winner Blathwayt ready to make his season debut in the Gr. 3 Spring Sprint (1400m) while progressive intermediate galloper Finn is set to contest the rating 65 1600 metre contest on the day.
"I've been watching the forecasts over the last little while and they have been saying there could be rain around which would suit me just fine," he admitted.
"Blathwayt handles most tracks while Finn will definitely be suited if the track is slow or worse. I certainly won't be complaining if they do get it right with their predictions."
MacGregor has high hopes for stable star Blathwayt who scored first up at the same meeting last year and comes into this Saturday with a win at the Foxton trials last Friday under his belt.
"He has come back in good shape after his winter break and has pleased me with his progress," he said.
"We gave him a jump-out a couple of weeks ago which he won and then he stepped up and won his trial over 1200 metres nicely as well.
"He did win fresh-up over a mile last year at this meeting but that was in rating 85 company whereas this time it will be against the real good ones. It will be a big ask but he is nicely forward for it so I'm hoping he can go well."
MacGregor will follow a similar path to last season with the seven-year-old gelding with the defence of his Feilding Gold Cup title one of the aims for this campaign.
"Provided he does come up well I'm keen to take him back to Riccarton in November for the New Zealand Cup," advised.
"He didn't go as well as he could in it last year so it would be nice to go back and make amends. He won the Feilding Cup on the way to Riccarton so that will be part of the plan again this time." - NZ Racing Desk