Queensland beckons black type performer
An outing on her home track today will keep Dontpokethetiger up to the mark ahead of the Riccarton filly’s two start campaign in Queensland.
Peter Rudkin’s multiple stakes placegetter will make her Australian debut at Ipswich on Saturday week, an event that will serve as a lead-up to her main target a fortnight later.
“She’s going to have a run here [today] and she’ll be on a flight on Friday,” the Canterbury trainer said.
“I’ve got another horse over there with Paul Jenkins that I part-own called Precision Strike and he won the last race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
“He won from the outside gate — he’s not a bad type and when I was talking to Paul he said he would be going to Ipswich next and the same race as Dontpokethetiger.
“I don’t mind if she runs second to him, her main race will be on July 1.” Rudkin was referring to the Sunshine Coast Guineas over 1600 metres, a race won by the champion mare Winx two years ago.
In the meantime, Dontpokethetiger will step out in the gavelhouse.com 3YO at Riccarton today with Leah Hemi to take the ride.
The six-time black type placegetter hasn’t raced since she finished third in the NZ Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes in early April and Rudkin isn’t expecting fireworks from the filly.
“She needs a run, but she’s got the class and she always tries hard,” he said.
He also gave stablemate Secret Belle a strong chance in the race.
“She had a sore back, but she’s right now and she loves the wet ground,” Rudkin said.
Improvement is also expected from Lord Bentley in the Canterbury Equine Clinic Rating 75.
“It was far too sticky for him at Wellington and it will be deep and loose here.”
The conditions Samantha Wynne will ride in at today’s Riccarton meeting will be a world away from an exciting challenge she faces in a month’s time.
In early July, the jockey will trade the mud and cold of New Zealand’s winter racing scene for the dirt and dust of Inner Mongolia’s synthetic track after being invited to race at the Chinese course.
The invitation came from Inner Mongolia’s billionaire chief horse racing enthusiast Lin Lang.
He races horses in Australasia under the Mongolian name-prefix and is the driving force behind his home region’s huge investment in racing.
Lin Lang effectively started racing in Inner Mongolia by exporting 65 New Zealand horses in 2012 to race at a track he built.
Wynne was thrilled to be asked to take part in a two race series the club is holding early next month.
“You can’t buy experience — I won’t turn it down — I will give it a crack.”