Frost aiming for Trentham
The Group III Thomson Handicap is on the agenda for the 5-year-old Tavistock gelding Travimyfriend after he won the rating 85 race over 1400m at the Egmont Racing Club’s meeting at Hawera on Saturday.
Trained at Otaki by Rachael Frost, Travimyfriend was sent out a short priced favourites and rewarded punters with a gutsy effort down the straight after going to the front quite early in the hands of Cameron Lammas.
Frost said Travimyfriend had always given her the impression that the step up to the mile would suit and the way he had come up this preparation there was no reason not to go to Trentham on October 28.
There was no shortage of excitment on course with Travimyfriend owned by a large group of coastal Taranaki farmers.
The win was the horse’s fourth from 13 starts and took his earnings past $63,000.
The Waverley trained Sergeant Blast had looked a threat for Sam Lennox when rider Johnathan Parkes put him trough near the rails but he faded on his run slightly to finish fourth.
❚ Astute Whanganui trainer Kevin Myers will try to get impressive winner of the rating 75 1200m race Tabard in on the minimum weight in the Group II Couplands Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on the middle day of the cup carnival.
The winner of his last three races on end, Tabard put paid to the opposition as soon as jockey Rosie Myers asked for an effort as the 4-year-old son of Coats Choice won by two lengths from the Mike Breslin trained King Cougar.
Rosie Myers said Tabard, who won at New Plymouth last start, continued to improve with every outing and she was not sure exactly where he could end up.
‘‘He’s a serious racehorse,’’ she said.
The winning trainer would have at least got a good welcome home given the horse is owned by his long-term partner Angela Illston.
The win was Tabard’s fifth from just nine starts.
❚ Opaki trainer Kylie Little will look for a cup race next year with Trisha Lea after the 6-year-old Zed mare won the rating 65 2100 race in the hands of apprentice Madan Singh.
Little thought Trisha Lea was still developing as a stayer despite her age and admitted to being a bit surprised she paid more than $13 after they arrived at Hawera with a bit of confidence.
Things had not gone right for Trisha Lea in her last two starts and she had a genuine excuse after she was caught three wide at Hastings racing over the same distance.