Milford Sound heads Carston team
WELLINGTON: Riccarton Park trainer Andrew Carston is hoping to get a gauge on group 2 performer Milford Sound when he lines up in race 5, the Otago Daily Times open handicap at Wingatui tomorrow.
The son of Ocean Park had a rewarding 3yrold season, placing in the Southland Guineas, Manawatu Classic and Championship Stakes.
He failed to fire as a 4yrold in the spring, finishing towards the tail of the field in each of his three starts, and while he has been unplaced in his two races this time in, Carston has been pleased with his progress.
‘‘He is going OK.
‘‘He hasn’t copped a wet track for a fair while and I think he is the most effective on rainaffected going.
‘‘He steps up to 2200m [tomorrow] and there is a little bit of rain around in the forecast, too, which is going to help,’’ Carston said.
‘‘He has got to take on some hard campaigners, so it is going to give us a line as to where we go with him.’’
Carston is also looking forward to kicking off the career of juvenile Thats Charming in race 4.
‘‘Thats Charming is a nice 2yrold. We have had a few issues, so he has missed the feature races over the spring and autumn.
‘‘He trialled well the other day so we will give him a trip away and probably tip him out [spell him] for the spring.
‘‘He is a really nice horse and he has done nothing wrong.’’
Carston will have a twopronged attack in race 3, the Speight’s open handicap over 1400m, with Severine and Pullyoursocksup.
He anticipates both mares will appreciate the drop back in grade.
‘‘The two mares are dropping back from stakes company. They are both going well and I think it is a really good race for them,’’ he said.
‘‘Pullyoursocksup’s last win was at Dunedin. I think they are both eachway chances in quite a good field.’’
Carston has a large team in and believes he has a couple of good prospects.
‘‘Russian Fable [race 7] has been going some really good races. She is getting close to winning a race.
‘‘I thought Yamuna [race 10] was unlucky not to have won last start.
Island Hop [race 8] is going well and Where’s Wally [race 9] is firstup.
‘‘It is good to get back on some grass and it is going to be a nice surface for them.’’ — NZ Racing Desk