Lewis on track watch
The storm that robbed punters of today’s big jumps meeting at Trentham, has caused some Te Rapa participants to keep a wary eye on the weather.
The Te Rapa track was rated a Slow9 yesterday with no danger of today’s meeting following Trentham’s lead and being abandoned.
However, early rain yesterday was unwelcome by Ngaire Fraser trainer of Group One Turf Bar (1200m) favourite Lewis Caroll ($3.90).
The experienced trainer has no desire to start her outstanding 4-year-old gelding on anything worse than a Slow8 surface but she knows better than to panic where the free-draining Te Rapa track is concerned.
‘‘We made an early call and scratched one year at Te Rapa because we thought the track would be too wet,’’ she said. ‘‘And they turned around and ran 1:10.
‘‘We don’t want to scratch, but we don’t want to run on a heavy track.’’
The rain cleared late yesterday and a fine day is forecast for today with early frosts.
That forecasts gives hope the track could improve.
‘‘I’ll be waiting until the last thing tomorrow (Saturday) morning before making a decision,’’ Fraser said.
If forced to scratch, Fraser has a Plan B which would lead to a return the following weekend to Ruakaka where her winner of five performed so well at his last start.
On June 17 ridden by Sam Weatherley who is booked to ride again, Lewis Caroll fought hard for third behind Fully Funded in a blanket finish.
Fraser is aware that today’s field is full of wet track specialists and she isn’t keen to clash with them on their terms.
‘‘The only other one in the field who probably doesn’t want it wet is Mark’s horse,’’ she said.
Mark is her son Mark Frasercampin and the horse he trains with his brother Chris, is the speedster Il Cavallo.
Listed Pegasus Stakes placed at Riccarton after his purchase by the brothers as a stallion prospect for their Chequers Stud at Cambridge, Il Cavallo proved subfertile and was gelded for another race campaign.
While the family rivalry today is weather reliant, the rivalry was put aside on Tuesday morning when they travelled to Te Rapa for a final hit-out on the new trial grass.
‘‘The track was beautiful - they were just marking the surface,’’ Fraser said.
‘‘They didn’t work together but both horses worked nicely.’’
Whatever transpires, Lewis Caroll’s next run will be his last in this campaign.
‘‘Then we will put him out and if he’s good enough we could look at the Stewards [Stewards Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton in November].’’
Another Riccarton bound galloper, Pacorus will pay a visit to Te Rapa on his way to bigger things.
The Chris Wood-trained stayer will contest the Gallagher 1600 before resuming his pursuit of longer distance prizes.
Wood’s only concern with Pacorus is his topweight of 60 kg on a 54 kg minimum.
‘‘He’s not a big, robust horse and the old saying that weight stops a train is true,’’ Wood told NZ Racing Desk. ‘‘I’m fortunate my horse has got such a big heart.’’
Wood is keen to take Pacorus south for the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Riccarton.