Ringo wins at Awapuni for Mike Breslin
Photo: Race Images Palmerston North
A tilt at the Gr. 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile is next on the list for impressive Awapuni winner Ringo as he capped a superb day at the office for local trainer Mike Breslin.
Breslin was at the Kumara meeting on Saturday where he emerged with three winners from his four runners, all ridden by stable apprentice Danielle Hirini, however he was tuned into the on-course television monitors to watch his stable star storm to a comfortable win on his home turf.
"It was great to see him back to winning form and to really stretch out like we know he can," he commented.
"He's been going really well of late. He went a super race in the Couplands Mile to finish second and then had no luck in the Captain Cook Stakes."
"He got caught back on the fence at Trentham and never really got going so we gave him a few days off when he got home where he freshened up nicely."
Breslin was confident of a good run on Saturday but was pleased to hear confirmation of the effort from rider Hayden Tinsley after the race.
"Hayden came back and said he did it easily with something left up his sleeve at the finish," he said.
"We really wanted to see him hitting the line with purpose so I guess we got exactly what we were after."
Breslin will now target the six-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding at the Thorndon Mile with the hope that he will strike similar track conditions to Saturday.
"He is such a big horse and hits the ground hard so he does prefer a little cut in the surface," he said.
"Saturday's track was nigh on perfect so if he could strike that again he has to be in with a chance in the Thorndon."
A win in the Group One mile would no doubt see further attention focused on the first day of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka on 25 January where the full brother to Ringo goes through the auction ring as Lot 159 from the Wellfield Lodge draft.
While Breslin was taken by the win of Ringo he was also full of praise for his stable apprentice, Hirini, as she proved up to the challenge he set her before Saturday's Kumara meeting.
"I said to Danielle after she had won a race at Reefton last week that I was going to challenge her with rides on some good prospects on the weekend and she really handled herself beautifully," he remarked.
"It's not often you see a four kilogram claimer ride three winners in a day and it says a lot for her attitude that she was more concerned about not winning on our runner in the last race than the earlier wins.
"She has been with me for about eight months now after originally working for Ken Duncan. She was doing University studies part-time but wanted to make a commitment to being a jockey so she walked in the gate one day and asked me for an opportunity.
"I had a good chat with Ken and decided to take her on. She has a polo background so her riding skills were there and what I've seen to date indicates she has a good future in front of her." – NZ Racing Desk
Breslin was at the Kumara meeting on Saturday where he emerged with three winners from his four runners, all ridden by stable apprentice Danielle Hirini, however he was tuned into the on-course television monitors to watch his stable star storm to a comfortable win on his home turf.
"It was great to see him back to winning form and to really stretch out like we know he can," he commented.
"He's been going really well of late. He went a super race in the Couplands Mile to finish second and then had no luck in the Captain Cook Stakes."
"He got caught back on the fence at Trentham and never really got going so we gave him a few days off when he got home where he freshened up nicely."
Breslin was confident of a good run on Saturday but was pleased to hear confirmation of the effort from rider Hayden Tinsley after the race.
"Hayden came back and said he did it easily with something left up his sleeve at the finish," he said.
"We really wanted to see him hitting the line with purpose so I guess we got exactly what we were after."
Breslin will now target the six-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding at the Thorndon Mile with the hope that he will strike similar track conditions to Saturday.
"He is such a big horse and hits the ground hard so he does prefer a little cut in the surface," he said.
"Saturday's track was nigh on perfect so if he could strike that again he has to be in with a chance in the Thorndon."
A win in the Group One mile would no doubt see further attention focused on the first day of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka on 25 January where the full brother to Ringo goes through the auction ring as Lot 159 from the Wellfield Lodge draft.
While Breslin was taken by the win of Ringo he was also full of praise for his stable apprentice, Hirini, as she proved up to the challenge he set her before Saturday's Kumara meeting.
"I said to Danielle after she had won a race at Reefton last week that I was going to challenge her with rides on some good prospects on the weekend and she really handled herself beautifully," he remarked.
"It's not often you see a four kilogram claimer ride three winners in a day and it says a lot for her attitude that she was more concerned about not winning on our runner in the last race than the earlier wins.
"She has been with me for about eight months now after originally working for Ken Duncan. She was doing University studies part-time but wanted to make a commitment to being a jockey so she walked in the gate one day and asked me for an opportunity.
"I had a good chat with Ken and decided to take her on. She has a polo background so her riding skills were there and what I've seen to date indicates she has a good future in front of her." – NZ Racing Desk