Authentic Paddy
Trish Dunell
It's something of an anomaly that multiple Group One performer Authentic Paddy has yet to win a stakes race.
But Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta is hoping to set the record straight in Saturday's Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.
Authentic Paddy has won nine of his 53 starts and bankrolled more than $300,000 but while he has always proven competitive in stakes company, he has yet to win a black-type race.
In six starts at Group One level this season, he has finished second in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, third in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie, fourth in the Haunui Farm Classic (1600m) at Otaki and fifth in both the Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings and Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Trentham.
While a shade disappointing when ninth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie and fifth in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) in his last two starts, Lisa Latta was satisfied with both efforts and was upbeat about his improvement going into Saturday's Riccarton feature.
"I gave him two weeks off after the Zabeel Classic when he was in good form and I've just struggled to get the weight off him since then," Latta said.
"But his work on Tuesday was as good as it's ever been so I think we've got him back to full fitness now. He's just had a few problems – he's been tying up – and the track was quite tricky at Awapuni that day and he just didn't seem to like it.
"He's a lot better horse this week, certainly he's a lot better than he has been for his last two starts."
Regular rider Robert Hannam heads south to continue his association with the Howbaddouwanit six-year-old gelding whose last two visits to Riccarton produced a fifth placing in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) and a fourth placing in the Winter Classic (1800m), both on slow tracks.
While his record suggests his best form is on dead tracks or worse, Latta has few concerns about the prospect of a good track on Saturday.
However, that's not the case for stablemate Black Sav, who Latta says is an "uncertain starter", unless there's any easing of the track ahead of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) for three-year-old fillies.
Black Sav made good ground for sixth in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton last Saturday.
"I was happy enough with the run. She ran home nicely but she's still doing a bit wrong in running and she'd need a bit of rain before Saturday to start, I'd say," Latta said. - NZ Racing Desk
But Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta is hoping to set the record straight in Saturday's Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton.
Authentic Paddy has won nine of his 53 starts and bankrolled more than $300,000 but while he has always proven competitive in stakes company, he has yet to win a black-type race.
In six starts at Group One level this season, he has finished second in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, third in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie, fourth in the Haunui Farm Classic (1600m) at Otaki and fifth in both the Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings and Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Trentham.
While a shade disappointing when ninth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie and fifth in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) in his last two starts, Lisa Latta was satisfied with both efforts and was upbeat about his improvement going into Saturday's Riccarton feature.
"I gave him two weeks off after the Zabeel Classic when he was in good form and I've just struggled to get the weight off him since then," Latta said.
"But his work on Tuesday was as good as it's ever been so I think we've got him back to full fitness now. He's just had a few problems – he's been tying up – and the track was quite tricky at Awapuni that day and he just didn't seem to like it.
"He's a lot better horse this week, certainly he's a lot better than he has been for his last two starts."
Regular rider Robert Hannam heads south to continue his association with the Howbaddouwanit six-year-old gelding whose last two visits to Riccarton produced a fifth placing in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) and a fourth placing in the Winter Classic (1800m), both on slow tracks.
While his record suggests his best form is on dead tracks or worse, Latta has few concerns about the prospect of a good track on Saturday.
However, that's not the case for stablemate Black Sav, who Latta says is an "uncertain starter", unless there's any easing of the track ahead of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) for three-year-old fillies.
Black Sav made good ground for sixth in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton last Saturday.
"I was happy enough with the run. She ran home nicely but she's still doing a bit wrong in running and she'd need a bit of rain before Saturday to start, I'd say," Latta said. - NZ Racing Desk