Ryker wins the Shaw Wire Ropes 1600m at Ellerslie
Photo- Trish Dunell
A frustrating string of wide barrier draws and poor racing luck came to an end for Cambridge galloper Ryker at Ellerslie on Saturday as he scored a deserved victory in the Shaw Wire Ropes 1600.
The four-year-old had been thereabouts in the first three runs of his current campaign without managing to grab a victory. Trainer Gary Alton put that down to the gelding having to start from a wide barrier draw in each of those starts and was confident of a much improved showing once he secured barrier three for Saturday's contest.
"He hasn't had much luck this time in and hasn't jumped any closer to the rail than barrier 10 in each of those starts," he noted.
"He had been wide in just about every start but I thought if he could just get on the fence and get an economical trip on Saturday he might be hard to beat.
"That's exactly how it panned out as Leith (Innes) settled him in a perfect spot in behind the pace and didn't go around a horse in the run home.
"He has a good sprint and once he had clear air I was confident he could hold them all out."
While a bout of poor health recently prevented Alton from being on course on Saturday he was happy to ride his charge home from the comfort of his living room couch.
"I'm not really in the right shape to get along on those big days but I was pretty excited and cheered him home all the way," he admitted.
"These are the days you want to get a win as the prizemoney is very good so it was pleasing to get the thick end of it."
Alton is however contemplating a visit to Ellerslie on the middle day of the carnival where he will have four runners in action including promising maiden Bamurru who has finished runner-up in his last two starts. - NZ Racing Desk
The four-year-old had been thereabouts in the first three runs of his current campaign without managing to grab a victory. Trainer Gary Alton put that down to the gelding having to start from a wide barrier draw in each of those starts and was confident of a much improved showing once he secured barrier three for Saturday's contest.
"He hasn't had much luck this time in and hasn't jumped any closer to the rail than barrier 10 in each of those starts," he noted.
"He had been wide in just about every start but I thought if he could just get on the fence and get an economical trip on Saturday he might be hard to beat.
"That's exactly how it panned out as Leith (Innes) settled him in a perfect spot in behind the pace and didn't go around a horse in the run home.
"He has a good sprint and once he had clear air I was confident he could hold them all out."
While a bout of poor health recently prevented Alton from being on course on Saturday he was happy to ride his charge home from the comfort of his living room couch.
"I'm not really in the right shape to get along on those big days but I was pretty excited and cheered him home all the way," he admitted.
"These are the days you want to get a win as the prizemoney is very good so it was pleasing to get the thick end of it."
Alton is however contemplating a visit to Ellerslie on the middle day of the carnival where he will have four runners in action including promising maiden Bamurru who has finished runner-up in his last two starts. - NZ Racing Desk