Riccarton trainer Meg Cunneen will make her second venture to the North Island this week with high hopes of turning her fortunes around.
The experienced horsewoman will be represented at Trentham on Saturday by Group performer Seriously in the Listed James Bull Holdings Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) and Mamma Sans in the Speirs Finance Handicap (1400m).
It was with the Tavistock mare Mamma Sans that Cunneen made her first trip north earlier this year only for circumstances out of her control to make it a forgettable exercise.
“I took Mamma Sans up for the Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m), but that plan went pear-shaped when the race was moved to Hastings,” she said.
The January meeting set down for Tauherenikau was abandoned due to an issue with the track and transferred to the Hawke’s Bay.
“The whole point of going up there was to go to Tauherenikau as I thought she was better on a turning track, stepping up to open company,” Cunneen said.
“On a bigger track, she’s probably not good enough for open class but good enough for the Rating 74 grade.”
Stablemate Seriously has been a flagship performer this term for Cunneen and finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) in the spring. He has since run a further four placings, including a third in the Listed Easter Cup (1600m).
At his most recent appearance, the son of O’Reilly finished midfield in the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) in his first run beyond a mile. He will be ridden on Saturday by Brett Murray.
“Brett rides him in his work and hasn’t had the opportunity to ride him on race day yet, but with limited options as far as lightweights go he put up his hand,” Cunneen said.
“He said he would be quite happy to waste all week to ride him (at 53kg) and he knows him very well.”
The six-year-old Seriously has been relatively lightly raced with three wins and 12 top four finishes from 23 appearances.
“He’s one of those horses that it’s taken a wee while to all click for him. He is relaxing better and showing steady improvement,” Cunneen said.
“I think next season will be his go and he will put everything together, although he has been a great horse for me this season.”
Murray will also be aboard Mamma Sans, who was a last-start seventh when resuming from a three-month break.
“She ran here at Riccarton two weeks ago in a Rating 74 over 1200m and she needs a bit further so 1400m on a wet track should be right up her alley and I’ve been very happy with her work,” Cunneen said.
Cunneen is in her second season of training, but has a wealth of stable and stud experience to draw on.
She previously worked for the late Riccarton trainer Neill Ridley for four years and comes from a racing background.
“My Dad Paul has always raced and bred horses with Peter and Dawn Williams in the early days and more so lately with Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong,” Cunneen said.
“I worked for Shane and Anna at the weekends while I was at school and then moved north and worked at Mapperley Stud, at Te Akau and at Ballymore Stables.
“I came home to study beauty therapy and was working for Neill at the same time. Dad tried to steer me away from the racehorses a bit and said you’re better off getting a job and then you can afford to race your own, but I really love being hands-on and it’s great fun.
“I’ve got five here at the moment and over the summer I got up to nine. It’s a bit quieter now, but I’ve got a few babies to come in and go through their educational stages and that will keep me busy.”
