Race Images
A long range black type mission will have a happy ending if Patsys Lass can make an impact in her second appearance at Riccarton.
Pukekohe trainer Eamonn Green sent the filly to Christchurch early with Saturday’s Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (1000m) as her major southern objective.
Patsys Lass earned her away trip after a tidy trial at Ruakaka and she finished fourth, after being hampered at barrier rise, behind the unbeaten Avantage on debut at Riccarton last month.
“I mapped it all out about six weeks ago after she ran second at the trials, that warranted going down,” Green said.
“She’s going well and she’s learning to get out of the gates better. She’s improving all the time.”
Patsys Lass’ work has been up to the mark and she will again be ridden by the experienced Christchurch-based jockey Terry Moseley.
“She had a good gallop last Saturday and did a bit of three quarter pace on Wednesday,” Green said. “I’m very pleased with her.”
The daughter of Savabeel is out of the O’Reilly mare Patsy O’Reilly, who made her mark on the track.
“I bred Patsys Lass and the mother won four races for me,” Green said.
“She’s her second foal and I’ve also got a yearling colt by Tavistock.”
While Patsys Lass’ task on Saturday has been made a little easier with the absence of Avantage, who is suffering from shin soreness, she will still have to contend with that filly’s stablemate Al Hasa.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained colt overcame a tardy start on debut to finish runner-up at Ellerslie last month. – NZ Racing Desk.