Trish Dunell Photography
Cambridge conditioner Tony Pike was pleased with Rangipo’s fourth-placing in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, but has opted not to run the five-year-old gelding in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham later this month.
“It was a very brave effort,” Pike said. “Second-up jumping from 1200 to 1600m on a very testing track probably just told over the final stages, but he was beaten by a very narrow margin.
“It’s just good to have him back in good form, I’m very pleased with the way he is heading.
“We will probably miss the Thorndon Mile and head to Counties for the open 1600m race there on January 26. If he runs well in that we’ll probably look at the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa with him.”