Rangipo
Trish Dunell
New Zealand Derby winner Rangipo makes his Australian debut at Doomben on Saturday, but for those believing the 2400-metre classic winner might struggle around the tight-turning 1350m course in the Fred Best Classic, it might pay to think again.
Rangipo's trainer Tony Pike said from Brisbane on Thursday morning that far from being a traditional Kiwi stayer, the Stryker gelding is best suited to middle distances and was more than capable of handling the short trip while fresh.
"He won his maiden at 1000m and basically, he's just a really versatile horse that was in great form and he probably never really saw the Derby distance out but his heart got him through it and he just managed to get the win," Pike said.
"He really only fell in but we never thought he'd get a mile-and-a-half but he was just in great form at the time of year and obviously being a big race with a lot of prizemoney we thought we'd roll the dice and have a crack and he managed to get the job done.
"But he is quite effective at the short trips and I think really a mile is his peak distance."
Rangipo has 18 rivals for his Australian debut on Saturday but Pike is not treating the race as a hit-out for his ultimate winter goal - the Group 2 $400,000 Queensland Guineas over 1600m on June 11.
"Saturday's race is a hot field but he's drawn a good barrier (five) and I think he'll be sharp enough at 1350m - fresh-up anyway," Pike said.
As usual, the form out of the New Zealand Derby in March has proven to be strong with the Australian Derby winner Tavago having finished sixth in the race.
"It always is an amazing race," Pike said of the Derby. "It always throws up some pretty handy three-year-olds and the form normally stacks up pretty well over here in Australia so it's good to see them go on from the Derby."
Pike said Rangipo could be compared to the likes of fellow Kiwi galloper Turn Me Loose, who rose to prominence last spring in Melbourne with his Emirates Stakes success.
"He's probably a similar horse," Pike said. "He actually does have quite good gate speed and he can race near the pace if he draws a good gate.
"Something like the Emirates (in the spring) would be perfect for him.
"We'll just take him quietly through the Brisbane Carnival here and if he races well up here, then we'll probably give him a short break in Queensland and do a bit of work up here and get down to Melbourne for the spring." –Racing.com
Rangipo's trainer Tony Pike said from Brisbane on Thursday morning that far from being a traditional Kiwi stayer, the Stryker gelding is best suited to middle distances and was more than capable of handling the short trip while fresh.
"He won his maiden at 1000m and basically, he's just a really versatile horse that was in great form and he probably never really saw the Derby distance out but his heart got him through it and he just managed to get the win," Pike said.
"He really only fell in but we never thought he'd get a mile-and-a-half but he was just in great form at the time of year and obviously being a big race with a lot of prizemoney we thought we'd roll the dice and have a crack and he managed to get the job done.
"But he is quite effective at the short trips and I think really a mile is his peak distance."
Rangipo has 18 rivals for his Australian debut on Saturday but Pike is not treating the race as a hit-out for his ultimate winter goal - the Group 2 $400,000 Queensland Guineas over 1600m on June 11.
"Saturday's race is a hot field but he's drawn a good barrier (five) and I think he'll be sharp enough at 1350m - fresh-up anyway," Pike said.
As usual, the form out of the New Zealand Derby in March has proven to be strong with the Australian Derby winner Tavago having finished sixth in the race.
"It always is an amazing race," Pike said of the Derby. "It always throws up some pretty handy three-year-olds and the form normally stacks up pretty well over here in Australia so it's good to see them go on from the Derby."
Pike said Rangipo could be compared to the likes of fellow Kiwi galloper Turn Me Loose, who rose to prominence last spring in Melbourne with his Emirates Stakes success.
"He's probably a similar horse," Pike said. "He actually does have quite good gate speed and he can race near the pace if he draws a good gate.
"Something like the Emirates (in the spring) would be perfect for him.
"We'll just take him quietly through the Brisbane Carnival here and if he races well up here, then we'll probably give him a short break in Queensland and do a bit of work up here and get down to Melbourne for the spring." –Racing.com