Illuminati
Trish Dunell
Riccarton trainer Terri Rae was welcoming the rain in Canterbury this week.
Rae has the two favourites - Illuminati and Madam Victoria - for the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on Saturday and the pair race best with the jar out of the track.
"They both prefer rain-affected footing and that's the one thing that has been missing for Madam Victoria recently," Rae said.
Madam Victoria won five of her six starts as a three-year-old but has won only twice since.
She won an open 1400m on a slow track at Ashburton in September but has struck good tracks at her four subsequent starts.
The High Chaparral mare has had four wins, and three placings, from seven starts on dead or slow tracks, compared to two wins from 11 starts on good ground.
She has also been freshened since finishing a close fourth in the Listed Timaru Cup (1600m) on December 28. "We are really happy with her but she does want the give out of the track," Rae said.
Illuminati will be having her first start for Rae on Saturday.
The six-year-old, who was previously trained by part-owner Ben Foote, stayed south after finishing a close sixth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (1400m) at the New Zealand Cup meeting.
"She had a three week break after the Cup meeting," Rae said.
"Ben is keen to get some black type with her and the idea is that she will race on Saturday and then in the [Gr.3] White Robe at Wingatui [on February 6] and then go back to Ben.
"She goes well fresh but it won't be easy for her on Saturday with the weight [59.5kg]."
Illuminati has been a prolific winner over the past 10 months, with her last dozen starts producing six wins, two seconds and a third. Five of those wins have been at 1400m and she was the runner-up in the Winter Cup at Riccarton.
Illuminati opened as a $3.50 favourite with Madam Victoria at $6.50, though Rae felt there would be little between her pair at the weights.
Rae has three runners at Ashburton, the other being the maiden Parana who is making his South Island debut after being placed in two of his three starts for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike. – NZ Racing Desk
Rae has the two favourites - Illuminati and Madam Victoria - for the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on Saturday and the pair race best with the jar out of the track.
"They both prefer rain-affected footing and that's the one thing that has been missing for Madam Victoria recently," Rae said.
Madam Victoria won five of her six starts as a three-year-old but has won only twice since.
She won an open 1400m on a slow track at Ashburton in September but has struck good tracks at her four subsequent starts.
The High Chaparral mare has had four wins, and three placings, from seven starts on dead or slow tracks, compared to two wins from 11 starts on good ground.
She has also been freshened since finishing a close fourth in the Listed Timaru Cup (1600m) on December 28. "We are really happy with her but she does want the give out of the track," Rae said.
Illuminati will be having her first start for Rae on Saturday.
The six-year-old, who was previously trained by part-owner Ben Foote, stayed south after finishing a close sixth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (1400m) at the New Zealand Cup meeting.
"She had a three week break after the Cup meeting," Rae said.
"Ben is keen to get some black type with her and the idea is that she will race on Saturday and then in the [Gr.3] White Robe at Wingatui [on February 6] and then go back to Ben.
"She goes well fresh but it won't be easy for her on Saturday with the weight [59.5kg]."
Illuminati has been a prolific winner over the past 10 months, with her last dozen starts producing six wins, two seconds and a third. Five of those wins have been at 1400m and she was the runner-up in the Winter Cup at Riccarton.
Illuminati opened as a $3.50 favourite with Madam Victoria at $6.50, though Rae felt there would be little between her pair at the weights.
Rae has three runners at Ashburton, the other being the maiden Parana who is making his South Island debut after being placed in two of his three starts for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike. – NZ Racing Desk