Blathwayt set for NZ Cup

AN ENCOURAGING report nearly a year ago from one of the country’s premier riders of stayers was a catalyst for Alby MacGregor to set Blathwayt for the New Zealand Cup.

The Opaki trainer headed north to Te Rapa last December with the grey son of Colombia, who finished third over 2400 metres after he was blocked for room in the straight.

‘‘Noel Harris rode him that day when he was a certainty beaten and he said to me then that this horse will stay all day,’’ MacGregor said.

Blathwayt continued to progress last preparation with wins over ground at Awapuni and Hastings before he stepped up in grade to finish fourth in the Group III Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup.

He closed out his campaign with a runner-up finish in the Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup. The six-year-old returned from spell at Hastings on Saturday

a with an impressive defeat of the Rating 85 milers at Hastings in the hands of his now regular rider Jonathan Riddell to begin his Group III New Zealand Cup bid in earnest.

‘‘I took him to the trials at Otaki before that and I said to Jonathan it’s not pay day yet, just give him a good hit out,’’ MacGregor said.

‘‘He came back with a big smile on his face and that gave me a lot of confidence for the weekend. He’s a fair dinkum racehorse now and he knows his job.

‘‘He’ll have his next run in the Feilding Cup or at Trentham and then to Christchurch. He may run in the Metropolitan on the first day. He just loves to stay and he’s the full deal now.’’

Blathwayt is sharing the second line of New Zealand Cup betting on $10 with Celebrity Miss and Jimmy Mac behind the $6 favourite Benzini. – NZ Racing Desk.