Ramarro
Trish Dunell
Peter Lock's hopes of a warming winter with Ramarro were further stoked at Ellerslie where the proven wet track performer was back in the winning groove.
The Te Aroha trainer has black type plans for the rising seven-year-old this preparation and success in the Scot Thrust 1200 on Saturday boosted hopes of attaining stakes status.
"The Winter Cup at Riccarton is the aim this year," said Lock, who also part-owns the gelding. "He loves bad ground so hopefully he can continue on with the good form."
While Ramarro has now won four races – two of them at Ellerslie – he isn't yet the finished article.
"He can get himself very worked up so there's improvement to come in the brain department," Lock said.
However, Ramarro was on his game on Saturday for rider Sam Spratt who bided her time toward the tail end of the field and they came with a determined finish to collar Pan Dulce short of the post.
The genuine Biggin Hill finished third, the 25th minor placing of his career, while the well-backed Nahema dropped out to beat two home after racing on the pace to the turn.
Lock also looks to have a strong winter prospect in the lightly-tried Mr Luigi, who resumed on an encouraging note when runner-up earlier in the day behind the unbeaten Parallel Universe in the Tourism Ireland 1200.
"He's a very, very good horse and I hope he stays in one piece – he'll go right through the grades," Lock said.
In his first appearance for seven months, Mr Luigi made a good recovery to finish second after copping an early check. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Te Aroha trainer has black type plans for the rising seven-year-old this preparation and success in the Scot Thrust 1200 on Saturday boosted hopes of attaining stakes status.
"The Winter Cup at Riccarton is the aim this year," said Lock, who also part-owns the gelding. "He loves bad ground so hopefully he can continue on with the good form."
While Ramarro has now won four races – two of them at Ellerslie – he isn't yet the finished article.
"He can get himself very worked up so there's improvement to come in the brain department," Lock said.
However, Ramarro was on his game on Saturday for rider Sam Spratt who bided her time toward the tail end of the field and they came with a determined finish to collar Pan Dulce short of the post.
The genuine Biggin Hill finished third, the 25th minor placing of his career, while the well-backed Nahema dropped out to beat two home after racing on the pace to the turn.
Lock also looks to have a strong winter prospect in the lightly-tried Mr Luigi, who resumed on an encouraging note when runner-up earlier in the day behind the unbeaten Parallel Universe in the Tourism Ireland 1200.
"He's a very, very good horse and I hope he stays in one piece – he'll go right through the grades," Lock said.
In his first appearance for seven months, Mr Luigi made a good recovery to finish second after copping an early check. – NZ Racing Desk.
