Authentic Paddy winning last month’s Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup
Race Images Christchurch
Natural lightweight jockey Robbie Hannam can see the irony in him riding the topweight for Saturday's Gr.3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup that has condensed weights much to the exasperation of several rival camps.
Hannam rides last-start Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) winner Authentic Paddy in the Arawa Park 2200m feature, the Lisa Latta-trained Howbaddouwantit six-year-old gelding allotted the 60.5kg topweight.
All but Bay Of Plenty Cup winner Storming The Tower (54kg) and Listed Jakkalberry Classic winner Celebrity Miss (53.5kg) will carry the 53kg minimum, with jockeys Matthew Cameron, Craig Grylls and Mark Hills among those booked for rides at that weight.
"It's ironic, just one of those things," Hannam said.
"I can ride 53kg no problem and it's unfortunate for the heavier jockeys the way the weights have fallen. But I was always going to ride Authentic Paddy. He's a real favourite of mine and I'm looking forward to riding him again."
Hannam has ridden Authentic Paddy in 42 of his 54 starts and has been aboard for all 10 of his wins as well as his second in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this season and his Canterbury Gold Cup win.
"He's on top of his game," Hannam said.
"He won well last start and his work has been good since. I can't fault his trackwork leading into this weekend. He's got a big weight to carry but there's not a lot in there, outside Celebrity Miss, that's in his class range.
"I expect another big run from him, though that's a little dependent on the track. With his big weight, we wouldn't want the track too testing, otherwise that could make it too tough for him."
Hannam rated another of his regular rides, Authentic Paddy's stablemate China Star, as a danger.
"She's run a bottler at Te Rapa [for sixth in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes] the other day. She's drawn the outside and the idea was always to go forward. She had to work a bit but she ran a terrific race and she'll be a genuine lightweight chance on Saturday."
Hannam has taken six rides at Rotorua, picking up the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained Rocknrolla in the Listed Classic Cuisine Rotorua Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares. - NZ Racing Desk
Hannam rides last-start Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) winner Authentic Paddy in the Arawa Park 2200m feature, the Lisa Latta-trained Howbaddouwantit six-year-old gelding allotted the 60.5kg topweight.
All but Bay Of Plenty Cup winner Storming The Tower (54kg) and Listed Jakkalberry Classic winner Celebrity Miss (53.5kg) will carry the 53kg minimum, with jockeys Matthew Cameron, Craig Grylls and Mark Hills among those booked for rides at that weight.
"It's ironic, just one of those things," Hannam said.
"I can ride 53kg no problem and it's unfortunate for the heavier jockeys the way the weights have fallen. But I was always going to ride Authentic Paddy. He's a real favourite of mine and I'm looking forward to riding him again."
Hannam has ridden Authentic Paddy in 42 of his 54 starts and has been aboard for all 10 of his wins as well as his second in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this season and his Canterbury Gold Cup win.
"He's on top of his game," Hannam said.
"He won well last start and his work has been good since. I can't fault his trackwork leading into this weekend. He's got a big weight to carry but there's not a lot in there, outside Celebrity Miss, that's in his class range.
"I expect another big run from him, though that's a little dependent on the track. With his big weight, we wouldn't want the track too testing, otherwise that could make it too tough for him."
Hannam rated another of his regular rides, Authentic Paddy's stablemate China Star, as a danger.
"She's run a bottler at Te Rapa [for sixth in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes] the other day. She's drawn the outside and the idea was always to go forward. She had to work a bit but she ran a terrific race and she'll be a genuine lightweight chance on Saturday."
Hannam has taken six rides at Rotorua, picking up the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained Rocknrolla in the Listed Classic Cuisine Rotorua Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares. - NZ Racing Desk
