Trish Dunell
Cambridge trainer Jon Miller is hoping the aid of some schooling over fences plus the benefit of a full apprentice allowance will turn the tide for Waipipi Lad at Pukekohe on Saturday.
A winner of six races, Waipipi Lad will be ridden in the Haunui Farm 1600 by Pukekohe apprentice Kavish Chowdhoory, whose 4kg claim will reduce the nine-year-old’s handicap to 55kg, 1kg above the minimum.
“A lot of the others are going for apprentice claims so I’ve done it,” Miller said. “It gets him in with a nice weight and he’s been doing a bit of schooling and that’s helped him.
“He’s got half his jumping ticket and he jumps well so that’s his future. But I’m hoping he can win another one on the flat.”
Waipipi Lad’s most recent win was 12 months ago when he completed a double at Te Rapa before recording his most significant placing, a third in the Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe.
He came close to another win three starts ago when just beaten by Padraig over 1600m at Tauranga and has run fourth in his most recent runs.
“He’s back on his old home track this weekend so he knows the place well,” Miller said.