In Style wins at Matamata
Photo- Trish Dunell
Matamata trainer Danica Guy gained some consolation for the disappointment of a wasted trip to Trentham on Saturday when her class sprinting mare In Style bounced back to winning form on her home track.
Guy had headed south with the warm favourite for Saturday's Gr. 3 Desert Gold Stakes in Capella however a minor hoof issue surfaced when the filly was unloaded at Otaki the previous day and saw her ruled out of the contest following a further inspection at 1pm on Saturday.
That left Guy with just the one runner on Saturday who provided a pleasant end to a frustrating day when she saw off a tidy line-up in the Norwood Farm Machinery Centre sponsored open 1200 metre event.
"She just hasn't been able to strike the right track so far in this campaign as she has to have a dry surface," explained Guy.
"We scratched her from the Railway when it rained and probably should have done the same at Trentham for the Telegraph as she was just all at sea on the surface there that day.
"I had my fingers crossed we could finally get a good track on Saturday as her work has been very good so I knew she would be in with a good chance."
Guy had some doubts about the 58 kilograms the mare had to carry on Saturday but a copybook ride from Craig Grylls saw her lump the sizeable impost to a convincing victory.
"I was delighted with Craig's ride as he had some very specific instructions and followed them exactly to the letter," she said.
"I was a little worried about the weight as it's the most she has had to carry and she isn't that big however her class shone through in the end."
Guy will now monitor the mare's recovery from her exertions with an eye to a start in the Gr. 1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa on the 13th of February. – NZ Racing Desk
Guy had headed south with the warm favourite for Saturday's Gr. 3 Desert Gold Stakes in Capella however a minor hoof issue surfaced when the filly was unloaded at Otaki the previous day and saw her ruled out of the contest following a further inspection at 1pm on Saturday.
That left Guy with just the one runner on Saturday who provided a pleasant end to a frustrating day when she saw off a tidy line-up in the Norwood Farm Machinery Centre sponsored open 1200 metre event.
"She just hasn't been able to strike the right track so far in this campaign as she has to have a dry surface," explained Guy.
"We scratched her from the Railway when it rained and probably should have done the same at Trentham for the Telegraph as she was just all at sea on the surface there that day.
"I had my fingers crossed we could finally get a good track on Saturday as her work has been very good so I knew she would be in with a good chance."
Guy had some doubts about the 58 kilograms the mare had to carry on Saturday but a copybook ride from Craig Grylls saw her lump the sizeable impost to a convincing victory.
"I was delighted with Craig's ride as he had some very specific instructions and followed them exactly to the letter," she said.
"I was a little worried about the weight as it's the most she has had to carry and she isn't that big however her class shone through in the end."
Guy will now monitor the mare's recovery from her exertions with an eye to a start in the Gr. 1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa on the 13th of February. – NZ Racing Desk