Stepping stone for Patrick Erin
TODAY’S Wyndham Cup is a race of changing shape.
The rerunning of the race, after its cancellation last month, is being seen in two lights.
For most, it has been thrown around like a beach ball from its home town to its new venue of Ascot Park in Invercargill.
But the trainer of early favourite Patrick Erin sees it as a flatter, sturdier object.
The race will serve as a perfect stepping stone for Patrick Erin path towards a Riverton Cup tilt later this month, his cotrainer, Shane Anderton, said.
‘‘He had to have one more run before the Riverton Cup. He should be a nice show.’’
Patrick Erin has come through his latest winning run at Wingatui last month when he carried 61kg in good order, Anderton said.
In today’s contest, the galloper will have an astounding 10kg drop in weight from that rating 75 win.
Apprentice Rafi Firdhaus has been tasked with partnering Patrick Erin in his first attempt at open company.
The Canterbury rider’s 3kg allowance takes the gelding’s weight down to just 51kg.
That keeps Patrick Erin on an even keel with one of his main rivals in Revelator.
The 60kg topweight also gets a 3kg weight relief, from 60kg down to 57kg.
Revelator won last year’s Wyndham Cup and brings strong form to his attempt to defend his crown.
Two starts ago, the John and Karen Parsonstrained galloper ran fourth in the Dunedin Gold Cup.
The 8yrold then ran a hardfought second in last week’s Hororata Cup at Addington.
Another of Patrick Erin’s rivals in Thought That will be calling on experience, rather than weight relief, in his Wyndham Cup bid.
The galloper will attempt to keep up his hot recent form and head off Patrick Erin and Revelator. He carries 54kg with senior rider Kylie Williams aboard for trainer Ellis Winsloe.
Winsole steps out his veteran galloper, Irish Excuse, in today’s open sprint.
It will be the topweight’s first race since a downthetrack effort in listed company at Wingatui on Boxing day.
The Jack and JoAnn Gordontrained Sharaa ran a brave second behind Kinagat at Wingatui last month which should mean he is more than competitive in today’s sprinting feature.
Today’s Pearl Series fillies and mares’ clash in race 4 is the first call for classy filly Showemup in her quest to restart her racing season.
The Sally McKaytrained 3yrold showed promise when notching placings in the Gore and Dunedin Guineas before injury ruled her out of tackling more of the South’s summer and autumn 3yrold classics.
The filly’s enthusiasm for life was to blame for the injury after she injured a joint while playing in her paddock.
Showemup is one of 13 horses with whom trainer Sally McKay has accepted for today’s meeting.
Additional information for meetings today.—
M2 Auckland RC