Ronchi
Trish Dunell
Co-trainer Allan Peard believes there is a touch of vulnerability about Ronchi at Te Rapa on Saturday.
"It's five weeks between runs and he's a gross type of horse," he said. "He's got to carry a bit of weight, but he should probably still win."
Ronchi's excellent form this preparation has seen him rise to the top of the handicap and he will have to shoulder 60kg in the Lodge City Rentals 1600, although he is opposed by a field of moderate quality, to say the least.
The four-year-old opened his campaign with a defeat of the subsequent Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes winner Underthemoonlight. A minor placing followed before further open handicap success at Ellerslie.
Ronchi's last appearance resulted in a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes behind Coldplay, last Saturday's winner of the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.
"We're happy with him and he'll go on to the Rich Hill Mile after this race," said Peard, who trains the son of Stravinsky with Bruce Wallace.
"He'll then run in the Herbie Dyke Stakes or the Thorndon Mile – it will be one or the other."
The stable also have another top winning prospect at Te Rapa in Splendido, who is presented with a golden opportunity to break his maiden in the Print House 1600.
"He's been working well after he came back from Australia in good order," Peard said.
Stakes placed as a three-year-old, Splendido best effort in Sydney was a third at Randwick and he finished third at Pukekohe on his return. – NZ Racing Desk.
"It's five weeks between runs and he's a gross type of horse," he said. "He's got to carry a bit of weight, but he should probably still win."
Ronchi's excellent form this preparation has seen him rise to the top of the handicap and he will have to shoulder 60kg in the Lodge City Rentals 1600, although he is opposed by a field of moderate quality, to say the least.
The four-year-old opened his campaign with a defeat of the subsequent Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes winner Underthemoonlight. A minor placing followed before further open handicap success at Ellerslie.
Ronchi's last appearance resulted in a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes behind Coldplay, last Saturday's winner of the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.
"We're happy with him and he'll go on to the Rich Hill Mile after this race," said Peard, who trains the son of Stravinsky with Bruce Wallace.
"He'll then run in the Herbie Dyke Stakes or the Thorndon Mile – it will be one or the other."
The stable also have another top winning prospect at Te Rapa in Splendido, who is presented with a golden opportunity to break his maiden in the Print House 1600.
"He's been working well after he came back from Australia in good order," Peard said.
Stakes placed as a three-year-old, Splendido best effort in Sydney was a third at Randwick and he finished third at Pukekohe on his return. – NZ Racing Desk.