Clock ticking for Matost

Matost has been out of the winners’ circle for a long time and trainer Mark Phillips is hoping the threat of a hurdling career might bring about a return to top form. The seven-year-old’s future on the flat will be decided this month and he gets a chance to stave off a date over the jumps with a bold showing in tomorrow’s $25,000 Freight Lines Te Awamutu Cup (1580m). “We’ll take it race-by-race with him and he hasn’t won for two years so it’s hard to make plans,” Phillips said. “Condition-wise he’s pretty well and he looks great and it’s about getting everything right on the day with him. He can give them a fright, especially with the weight and Matt Cameron on him. He’s got some niggling problems with back issues and with his fetlocks. He went a good race fresh and was then quite disappointing, but his last run was a lot better and he seems to have come through it well. He’s been doing some schooling and he’s quite a powerful horse who jumps well. He knows what’s coming, although that will depend on his next couple of runs. If he goes really well on Saturday then we might back him up in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham a week later.” Matost, who posted the last of his eight wins in the Whyte of 2011, was an improved fifth at Ellerslie last time out behind Magna Carta and Phillips is hoping the weather will take a turn for the worse tomorrow. “He loves rain on the day and he’s best when the track is deep and bottomless,” he said.

Niagara to have Waikato parade

Niagara, the Group-winning son of champion Australian sire Encosta de Lago, will make his first New Zealand public appearance at Cambridge on Sunday. He will be paraded at Robyn and Russell Rogers’ Kendayla Park at 1pm before moving on to Hawke’s Bay to take up stud duties for Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds on the iconic property formerly operated as Okawa Stud. Niagara will be paraded at his new home on July 14. At both parades, all in attendance will go into a draw for a free first-season service, valued at $5000 plus GST, plus free transport to the stud.

Wallace and Peard unite

Takanini trainer Bruce Wallace is going into partnership with his long-time stable foreman Allan Peard in the new season. Peard, who has been employed by Wallace for the last 20 years, will set up a new yard at Byerley Park in Kingseat, near Karaka. “We have lost part of the track at Takanini due to property developments, so that has prompted the move,” Peard said. “Over the next few months we will be re-shaping the track at Takanini so we will still be able to pre-train from there but the main stable will be at Byerley Park. We have gone from training 35 to just over 50 horses in the last few years. Under the new system I will be based at Byerley with 26 horses and 25 to 30 will remain at Takanini. It’s a big step forward for me but I’m ready to step up.”