Tim Donnelly is hoping the wet weather forecast doesn’t put a dampener on the undefeated record of Participator (NZ) (Contributer) when they line-up in the TAB Highway Hanidcap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The son of Contributor has won both of this starts for the Wagga Wagga horseman but will meet a Heavy track for the first time this weekend.
“There has been a lot of rain and the track is a Heavy10, but you have got to deal with it,” Donnelly said.
“He is out of a More Than Ready mare, so that gives me a little bit of confidence (that he will handle it), they really like the wet the More Than Readys.
“But you don’t really know until they are put under pressure under race conditions.”
Participator has drawn barrier five and Donnelly said the unknown variable of a wet track is his only concern ahead of the race.
“If it was a Good track I would be very confident. I think he has got a lot of improvement in him from his previous start,” he said.
“Apart from the wet track I am very happy with him.”
Donnelly purchased Participator out of Lilywhites Lodge’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for $95,000.
Due to COVID-19 border restrictions, Donnelly was unable to be at Karaka that day, and he was so pleased with his acquisition last year he went back to the same well this year, purchasing lot 176, the Satono Aladdin colt, out of Kiltannon Stables’ Ready To Run Sale draft for $160,000 at Te Rapa last week.
“I wasn’t there last year, and I bought another one again last week, so it might be a good formula,” Donnelly said.
“I picked this guy (Participator) out from the breeze-up and the videos they had of him. I then had (bloodstock agent) Guy Mulcaster have a look at the horses that I liked, he gave him the tick, so that was good enough for me.
“I bought a horse by Satono Aladdin this year. They sold very well at the sales.”
All going to plan, after Saturday Participator will head for a spell before being set for the Country Championships next year.
“He is going to have a spell after tomorrow, provided the races go ahead,” Donnelly said.
“He will resume on February 5 in another Highway race at Randwick.
“We have the Country Championships over here, and a heat is at Wagga two weeks later, it is worth A$150,000.
“If he runs in the first two he will go to the final on April 2, but he will have a run in-between.”
