Anderton happy with stable’s star gallopers

TRAINER Brian Anderton could not be happier with his star gallopers heading into the second thoroughbred meeting of New Zealand Cup week at Riccarton today.

Anderton and son Shane line up Tommy Tucker in today’s group 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and Coulee and Fascinate in group 3 Canterbury Breeders Stakes.

Tommy Tucker could not have impressed Brian Anderton more in his final hitout leading into today’s race.

‘‘I am very happy with him. He worked very well on Saturday morning.’’

Tommy Tucker was rated at the rare price of $21 dollars in early markets for today’s $230,000 feature.

Anderton said the key was for Tommy Tucker, who would carry 59kg, to stay handy from his barrier draw 6, Anderton said.

‘‘The horse is well in himself but he has got to be able to keep up to midfield or handier. He can’t let them get away from him with that weight.’’

The race’s two main contenders, Son Of Maher and La Diosa, have a 7kg weight advantage over the Otago raider.

Cotrainer Mandy Brown, who trains La Diosa with husband Matt, was pleased with her mare’s latest run for fourth behind Son Of Maher in the Coupland’s Mile Trial at Riccarton.

‘‘She’s very well and we were especially pleased with her last run,’’ Brown said.

In the same race, Tommy Tucker was outpaced before picking himself up again to hit the line strongly — although in eight place.

Brian Anderton found it difficult to split his runners, Coulee and Fascinate, in today’s Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes despite the pair coming in with contrasting form.

Coulee was ninth in Son Of Maher’s Mile Trial win when having a much needed season’s pipeopener.

Fascinate was an impressive 1200m winner at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup day.

The pair will clash with favoured pair Our Abbadean and La Fille En Jeu in today’s race.

The Anderton stable also lines up Patrick Erin in race 3 and Riding High in race 9.

The Steven Princetrained Passito is the only Otagotrained runner in the other feature, the 1200m Stewards Stakes.