Lane after more glory in Guineas

WELLINGTON: The Waikato Guineas has been a kind race to Kay Lane in the past and she is again heading north this weekend with high expectations.

Lane won the Te Rapa event in 1998 with Figurehead and she also produced Figueres to finish fourth in 2007.

The Levin horsewoman’s hopes today in the group 2 feature will rest with the lightlytried Figurable.

‘‘He’s very well and he’s looking for more ground now,’’ Lane, who also cobred and partowns the 3yrold, said.

‘‘This will be his first trip away so he’s on a learning curve and this will help him for the future.’’

Figurable has shaped promisingly in a brief career to date with runnerup finishes at his first two appearances. He then led all the way to post a runaway victory over 1600m at Stratford in late December.

‘‘He likes to run along in front and he just keeps going,’’ Lane said.

‘‘He’s not the brightest boy just yet and he can be a bit keen. He’s a big, strong horse who needs two people in the birdcage.’’

Figurable finished eighth last time out when he stepped up to blacktype company in the group 1 Levin Classic at Trentham.

‘‘He needs pace in the race. He hasn’t got a sharp sprint; he’s like an oldfashioned staying horse,’’ Lane said.

Lane has Figurable, who will be ridden by Mark Du Plessis, on a path to the New Zealand Derby, but she also has a plan B in place.

‘‘If he goes well on Saturday he’ll run in the Avondale Guineas before the Derby, but otherwise he can have a wee break and we’ll look at Brisbane with him,’’ she said. — NZ Racing Desk