Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie was left ruing a tough barrier draw and some unfortunate luck in running after Let Her Rip failed to figure in the finish of Saturday’s Gr. 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington.
The five-year-old mare was on a hit and run mission in Melbourne to secure some valuable Australian “black-type” to enhance her future breeding prospects. Those plans turned to custard however when she had to be snagged to the rear of the field from an outside barrier before being badly held up for a run in the home straight.
Although she made up good ground in the final stages it wasn’t enough to trouble the leaders which disappointed Ritchie who felt the daughter of Rip Van Winkle was in the right shape to be competitive in a talented line-up.
“When you draw the extreme outside you are always going to need a lot of luck and we didn’t get that,” he said.
“Dwayne (Dunn) had to drag her back and when he tried to make a wide run he got caught up behind a few others who were also trying to get to the outside. She only got going in the last 100 metres and by then the bird had well and truly flown.”
Ritchie also believes the free-draining properties of the Flemington racing surface also played against the mare’s chances after she pulled up with some wear and tear after the race.
“When they got the rain, I thought it might act in our favour but that track drains so well it stayed pretty hard all day,” he noted.
“She has pulled up with scorched heels as a result which would have had an effect on how she finished off as well.
“We’ll put her on a plane home now as she goes best with her races spaced and there are a few good targets coming up back at home for her.
“Dwayne actually said he thought she could definitely win a stakes race in Australia so that is encouraging however it is an expensive exercise to be racing just once a month so she’s better off back at home doing that than racking up the bills over here.”
The Gr. 3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes at Hawera on 14 October is a likely target for Let Her Rip, a race in which she could clash with Gr. 2 Foxbridge Plate winner Underthemoonlight. – NZ Racing Desk