Fresh off his rich payday after taking out last Saturday’s $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton, Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) will return to the Christchurch track this weekend in search of more feature spoils.
Initially set to target Saturday’s Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), trainer Sharon Robertson elected to make a late bid for the Southern Alps last week, which more than paid off for the local trainer.
Her decision earned her and fellow part-owners $175,000, bringing Matscot’s season tally to four wins, including the Listed Spring Classic (2000m), Hororata Gold Cup (1800m) and Southern Alps Challenge, and nearly $290,000 in earnings.
“It was nice to get that win (Southern Alps Challenge),” Robertson said. “We were originally just going to go for the Cup this week, but we decided to go in and it worked out well.”
Robertson has been pleased with the way he has come through the run and is looking forward to stepping him up over ground this weekend in the Canterbury Gold Cup, which will be his last start of the season.
“He will benefit from the step up to 2000m, he likes that distance,” she said.
“He is going out once he has finished here on Saturday afternoon because he has been up for quite a while. He will go out for two or three months and then come back for the spring.”
Robertson also co-bred Matscot out of her five-win mare Bewarned, with the son of Haradasun being the last of four foals out of the daughter of Danske.
“She had four foals but the only one that was any good was this one (Matscot),” Robertson said. “He has taken a long time, but it has been worth it.”
Robertson will also be represented on Saturday by Hey Now (NZ) (Zacinto) in the Happy 50th Clarkey Maiden (1400m) and debutant Yorrick (NZ) (Redwood) in the Riccarton Park Function Centre Maiden (1400m).
“Hey Now probably needs a bit more moisture, but I don’t think we are going to get it,” Robertson said.
“We will just go back from that draw (14) and see what happens. He is honest.
“It will be more for education with Yorrick, he is still learning.”
