Promising trio debut for Ruakaka trainers
WELLINGTON: Ruakaka trainers Ken Rae and Krystal WilliamsTuhoro will have a strong representation in race 1 at their home track today.
Their runners will make up half of the sixhorse field in the set weights and penalties 2yrold race and Rae is hoping one of them will become as good as their full sister, Prom Queen.
Queen of The Prom has a long way to go to reach the heights of her multiple stakeswinning sibling, but Rae believes she is showing some potential, having finished runnerup to stablemate Eva James in a 600m trial last month.
‘‘She’s coming along really well,’’ he said.
‘‘She has still got a wee bit to learn. She’s not quite as switched on as Prom Queen, but her trial was good.
‘‘She is very plainlooking but is a great doer, and her attitude is 100%. She will definitely be all right.
‘‘With 2yrolds you don’t know who you are up against, but she is definitely going good enough to be competitive [today]. If she does everything right she can win.’’
Rae will also line up her trial vanquisher, Eva James, and fellow debutant Kash Queen.
‘‘To be fair, they are probably all on par,’’ he said.
‘‘Kash Queen gallops really well, but she is a bit of a tart.
‘‘They all trialled up well the other day. I am a wee bit biased because of Prom Queen, but Eva James, I didn’t expect to win in their trial. Had Queen Of The Prom done everything right, I think she would have won.’’
Rae is in Christchurch readying a trio of runners for Riccarton’s meeting on Saturday. They include warhorse Kaharau, Zelenski and promising juvenile Silent Zone, of whom Rae has an extremely high opinion.
‘‘He can beat all those three fillies put together.
‘‘He starts on Saturday and I expect him to go really well. He’s got the greatest attitude for a 2yrold.
‘‘He is here for the Welcome Stakes [listed, 1000m] and if any of the three fillies go well [today], they will be on the truck leaving next week.’’
Kaharau and Zelenski are also on a mission towards New Zealand Cup week.