Sir Linwood
Trish Dunell
Sir Linwood is showing encouraging signs of an early return on his investment.
The two-year-old, who was a $220,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase at Karaka, will make his debut in the Haunui Farm 2YO at Pukekohe Park on Saturday off the back of a trial success.
"I don't believe he is a natural two-year-old, but he's done enough to dip his toe into the water," trainer Frank Ritchie said.
"We'll see how he goes and if he runs well enough then we might look at something a bit better for him in the autumn. He's a really nice horse and he will be a lot better as a three-year-old."
A colt by Hussonet, Sir Linwood turned in an encouraging performance when he was a winner at the Cambridge trials earlier this month, but Ritchie is respectful of the opposition on Saturday.
"It's a very good field and Aim Smart was an impressive trial winner when he beat my filly (Fiscal Fantasy) and the horse of Nigel Tiley's (Excelleration) goes really well," he said.
"I would have preferred something a bit softer for him first-up, but it will provide a good gauge as to where we're at."
Sir Linwood is raced by Auckland Racing Club committee member Rex Jensen, who has been a long-time supporter of the stable.
"Rex has been a client of mine for 40 years and he's had some nice horses, including Winning Wave who won a Thorndon Mile and Likely Story was another handy horse," Ritchie said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The two-year-old, who was a $220,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase at Karaka, will make his debut in the Haunui Farm 2YO at Pukekohe Park on Saturday off the back of a trial success.
"I don't believe he is a natural two-year-old, but he's done enough to dip his toe into the water," trainer Frank Ritchie said.
"We'll see how he goes and if he runs well enough then we might look at something a bit better for him in the autumn. He's a really nice horse and he will be a lot better as a three-year-old."
A colt by Hussonet, Sir Linwood turned in an encouraging performance when he was a winner at the Cambridge trials earlier this month, but Ritchie is respectful of the opposition on Saturday.
"It's a very good field and Aim Smart was an impressive trial winner when he beat my filly (Fiscal Fantasy) and the horse of Nigel Tiley's (Excelleration) goes really well," he said.
"I would have preferred something a bit softer for him first-up, but it will provide a good gauge as to where we're at."
Sir Linwood is raced by Auckland Racing Club committee member Rex Jensen, who has been a long-time supporter of the stable.
"Rex has been a client of mine for 40 years and he's had some nice horses, including Winning Wave who won a Thorndon Mile and Likely Story was another handy horse," Ritchie said. – NZ Racing Desk.