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Peter McKay isn’t taking a chance with Orange Shore and she will run at Te Awamutu on Tuesday, even though the distance isn’t ideal.
The Matamata trainer has been frustrated in recent weeks, trying unsuccessfully to get a run for the four-year-old and he won’t pass up the chance in the Farrelly Calf Rearing Handicap (1400m).
“She keeps getting balloted out and not getting a start so now she’s going to be a month between runs,” McKay said.
“It would have been better if it was 1200m and there’s one for her at Te Rapa next Sunday, but she might get balloted again there so she’ll run in this one.”
A debut winner last season, Orange Shore has been sparingly raced since and she opened her current campaign with a strong showing for third behind Joy Anna, who has subsequently been an impressive winner, at Taupo.
She was unplaced on her return to that course before a bold last-start fifth on a Premier day at Hawke’s Bay.
“That was a good run,” McKay said. “She over-raced a bit early on in the race and she wasn’t far off the winner at the end. She’s done well since.”
Mark Du Plessis rode Orange Shore at Hastings and he will partner her again at Te Awamutu. – NZ Racing Desk.