Ngatira Gold
Trish Dunell
Trainer Samantha Logan is prepared to forgive the last start performance of stable star Ngatira Gold as she sets her sights on a victory in the KS Browne Hurdle at Ellerslie tomorrow.
Last season's Great Northern Hurdles placegetter was one of the well fancied runners in the Waikato Hurdles last month but blotted his copybook with an indifferent performance that saw him finish a well beaten seventh in the event. Logan believes a tricky track surface that day played against her charge and that the six-year-old gelding can turn that form around in a return to one of his favourite venues.
"He just didn't cop the shifty track at Te Rapa which was disappointing as we thought he was ready to go a bold race," she explained.
"We couldn't find anything wrong with him afterwards so that's really all I can put it down to. He had done something similar there in his first season of jumping so I think it really comes down to the sand based nature of the track which he doesn't really like."
Logan has been pleased with the horse's progress since then and has him ready to fire at the venue where he scored his first victory over fences when taking out a maiden hurdle event on the same day last year.
"He really likes Ellerslie and tends to go his best races there," she said.
"He finally put it all together when he won there last year and went on to have a great season. He won the main hurdle on Pakuranga Hunt Day and then had it taken off him in the enquiry room before doing us proud in the Great Northern Hurdles.
"He's come up well again this year and we were confident before that Te Rapa race so I'm hoping coming back to Ellerslie can do the trick."
Logan also has the added bonus of securing the services of Australian based kiwi rider Richard Cully who has returned to take the ride on both Ngatira Gold and Jack Romanov, one of the pre-post favourites for the White Cliffs Timber McGregor Grant Steeplechase.
"Richard knows him well and did a great job on him last year so we're delighted he has come over and can take the ride again," she said.
"I am hoping for a shower or two of rain before the race as it looked pretty sticky there on Saturday and that won't suit us. If we can get some rain to loosen things up then I think we have a good chance."
Ngatira Gold will face a small but quality line-up in the race that includes Waikato Hurdles winner Thenamesbond, former Great Northern Hurdles winner Wee Biskit and sentimental favourite Raisafuasho who runs in the famous colours of owner and trainer Ann Browne, the wife of Ellerslie legend Ken Browne who the race is named after. – NZ Racing Desk
Last season's Great Northern Hurdles placegetter was one of the well fancied runners in the Waikato Hurdles last month but blotted his copybook with an indifferent performance that saw him finish a well beaten seventh in the event. Logan believes a tricky track surface that day played against her charge and that the six-year-old gelding can turn that form around in a return to one of his favourite venues.
"He just didn't cop the shifty track at Te Rapa which was disappointing as we thought he was ready to go a bold race," she explained.
"We couldn't find anything wrong with him afterwards so that's really all I can put it down to. He had done something similar there in his first season of jumping so I think it really comes down to the sand based nature of the track which he doesn't really like."
Logan has been pleased with the horse's progress since then and has him ready to fire at the venue where he scored his first victory over fences when taking out a maiden hurdle event on the same day last year.
"He really likes Ellerslie and tends to go his best races there," she said.
"He finally put it all together when he won there last year and went on to have a great season. He won the main hurdle on Pakuranga Hunt Day and then had it taken off him in the enquiry room before doing us proud in the Great Northern Hurdles.
"He's come up well again this year and we were confident before that Te Rapa race so I'm hoping coming back to Ellerslie can do the trick."
Logan also has the added bonus of securing the services of Australian based kiwi rider Richard Cully who has returned to take the ride on both Ngatira Gold and Jack Romanov, one of the pre-post favourites for the White Cliffs Timber McGregor Grant Steeplechase.
"Richard knows him well and did a great job on him last year so we're delighted he has come over and can take the ride again," she said.
"I am hoping for a shower or two of rain before the race as it looked pretty sticky there on Saturday and that won't suit us. If we can get some rain to loosen things up then I think we have a good chance."
Ngatira Gold will face a small but quality line-up in the race that includes Waikato Hurdles winner Thenamesbond, former Great Northern Hurdles winner Wee Biskit and sentimental favourite Raisafuasho who runs in the famous colours of owner and trainer Ann Browne, the wife of Ellerslie legend Ken Browne who the race is named after. – NZ Racing Desk