Track to favour Gallante
Underfoot conditions will play into Gallante’s favour when he makes his New Zealand debut in today’s City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m).
The Sydney Cup (3200m) winner has recently joined Team Rogerson and they have warned punters to take little notice of the stayer’s last placing at the Taupo trials.
‘‘You look at his trial run and it only looks fair, but the track was too hard for him. He’s an out-andout mudder and he’ll relish a slow track at Awapuni,’’ Bailey Rogerson said.
‘‘He’s settled in really well and you can see his character building every day. He’s really well weighted on Saturday and this is a good race to get a run under his belt because we are still learning about him.’’
MATAMATA
The Chaser produced a bright moment on the saddest of days when he handed Stephen Autridge with his 1000th training success.
While the four-year-old was posting a milestone victory at Wanganui on Thursday, Autridge was attending the funeral of his mother Gloria.
‘‘Obviously it was a tough day sending off Steve’s mother Gloria, but for Steve to get his 1000th winner is really good,’’ his training partner Jamie Richards said.
‘‘We planned to go forward from barrier 10 and he got caught out three wide, but Shafiq (Rusof) kept him nice and balanced, got into a rhythm and he quickened for an impressive win.’’
By Swiss Ace, The Chaser is raced by breeder Gerry Harvey who stands the gelding’s sire at his Westbury Stud operation.
‘‘Karyn and I went to the funeral today for Steve’s mum, Gloria, at the Matamata Racecourse, where there was a huge crowd to support the family,’’ Te Akau principal David Ellis said.
‘‘For Steve to get his 1000th shortly afterwards is a terrific effort on such a significant day.’’
RIVERTON
Robyn Mauger is running the promising stayer Larrikin out of his grade today by necessity rather than choice.
The Rangiora trainer has a goal in mind for the lightly tried five-year-old and a run in the Listed Carriers Arms Riverton Cup (2147m) fits in with the programme.
‘‘It’s a step toward a 2500m race at Riccarton on May 5,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘There aren’t enough stayers’ races and he really needs more ground than 2000m.
‘‘It’s a struggle to find suitable races for him – he’s a true southern stayer, a two-mile horse.’’
A son of Raise The Flag, Larrikin has been patiently handled to win three of his 10 starts, all of his successes coming over middle distances.
‘‘The further he goes the better he’ll be,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘He’s still developing and his best year will be next year.
‘‘He’ll be up against some proven stayers on Saturday, but he always tries his heart out.’’
A last-start winner over 2200m at Riccarton, Larrikin will have a change of rider at Riverton with Kin Kwo taking the reins from Kylie Williams, who has ridden the gelding in all of his wins.
‘‘Unfortunately, Kylie got suspended but Kin was on the horse in his first trial,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘He remembers him and I like the way he rides.’’
ADELAIDE
Belle du Nord has headed to Australia with fresh legs for a two-race Adelaide campaign.
The Group One performer arrived safely in Melbourne on Wednesday night and was accompanied by her stablemate Monarch Chimes. Runner-up in last season’s Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Belle du Nord added another top-flight placing to her record this term in the Levin Classic (1600m) before finishing a last-start seventh in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
‘‘She didn’t really look like she stayed the Oaks distance so we’ve freshened her right up,’’ said Emma-Lee Browne, who trains the Reliable Man filly with her husband David.
‘‘It was a little bit too far for her, it was roughly run and she got a bit of a bump along the way so she wasn’t disgraced.
‘‘She’s travelled over here well and she’ll go on to Adelaide and run at Morphettville in the Laelia Stakes over a mile on Saturday week and then on to the Schweppervescence Stakes over 1800m on April 21.’’
Monarch Chimes will remain in Melbourne where he will resume his jumping career.
‘‘He’s going to trial at Cranbourne next week for his ticket over here and all going well he’ll probably run at Pakenham,’’ Browne said.
Monarch Chimes made an immediate impact over the smaller fences last winter when he won his first three starts.
DUBAI
Bjorn Baker is in the dark about his opposition, but he is more than happy with his New Zealandbred sprinter Music Magnate ahead of the Al Quoz Sprint Trophy (1200m) at Meydan on World Cup night.
‘‘It’s very hard to weigh up the competition, it’s hard to compare form,’’ he said.
Baker arrived in Dubai on Wednesday, a week after the sixyear-old settled in with the trainer’s apprentice Jean Van Overmeire.
‘‘He’s travelled great, I couldn’t be happier with him,’’ Baker said. ‘‘He’s been ticking along in work for a fair while so he’s got that residual fitness. His first-up record is excellent and his firm track record is excellent too.’’