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Lauren Brennan was only too happy to tweak the programme of emerging staying prospect English Gambler when the opportunity came to tackle New Zealand's richest special conditions maiden race.
An impressive last-start 10-length maiden winner over 1600m at Tauranga, English Gambler was preparing for his for first start in Rating 65 company at New Plymouth on Saturday when Brennan received a call from New Plymouth's Jim Martin.
Martin bought a slot for Saturday's $100,000 Platinum Homes Taranaki Challenge (1400m) when Taranaki Racing announced in February it would host a race for horses that had not won a race before June 1, a sweepstake-type race run along the lines of Sydney's A$13 million The Everest.
"We weren't going in it. There's a mile race the same day but we got a phone call last week asking whether we'd be interested in running," Brennan said.
"It's a $100,000 race for a last-start maiden winner so we couldn't really turn it down."
Brennan said the four-year-old gelding had thrived since his Tauranga win and while he was dropping back to 1400m, she expected forecast rain for New Plymouth to mean the Taranaki Challenge would race more like a 1600m event.
"We've just kept him ticking over. He's hard on himself in his everyday work and he doesn't need a lot of galloping," the Cambridge trainer said.
"We took him to Te Rapa for a gallop last week and he'll have a gallop this week that should have him exactly where he needs to be. He's got a high-cruising speed and he's come through that last race well. We're really happy with him.
"This race is a great idea. Hopefully it continues on because it's added a lot of interest for this time of year."
Martin, who is also on the board of Taranaki Racing and sponsors the race, had to find a new horse for the Taranaki Challenge after the Peter McKenzie-trained Cetus suffered an injury that prevented him from tackling the race.
"Lauren had indicated to the club she was interested in running in the race if she could get a slot and we're happy to have English Gambler running for us," Martin said.
Horses declared to run for slot-holders and trainers already are:
| Horse | Slot Holder | Trainer |
| Heliberry | Rick Hill Racing | Mark Forbes |
| Prince Jabeel | Lindsay Racing | Lance Noble |
| Beltoy | Fortuna Syndications | Kylie Little |
| Back In A Flash | Pee Gee Bloodstock | Keith and Gavin Opie |
| Sure Bet | Team Rogerson | Team Rogerson |
| Ole Ole | Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan | Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman |
| Next Up | Kaipikari Thoroughbreds | Shelley Hale |
| Torque Time | Connors Racing | Bryce Revell |
| The Poormanzabeel | Kamada Racing | Catherine Cameron |
| Ujumpijump | The Oaks Stud | Joe Waldron |
| English Gambler | Platinum Homes Consortium | Lauren Brennan |
| Zeefa Zed | Ascot Bloodstock | John Wheeler |
- NZ Racing Desk