A nasty slip on the home turn that saw rider Bridget Grylls part company with her mount Madam Sass has resulted in the abandonment of racing at New Plymouth on Saturday after just one race.
Persistent rain throughout the morning led to the deteriorating track conditions and after the Grylls tumble, in which neither horse or rider were injured, a subsequent inspection by raceday officials, along with senior riders and trainers resulted in the track being deemed unsafe for racing.
Local trainer Allan Sharrock, who took out the race with promising three-year-old Per Inaway, was taking a philosophical outlook around the situation.
“I don’t put any blame on the track man here as he had the moisture levels right and had done a lot of work to try and ensure safe racing, but the rain we have got has just ruined it for us all,” he said.
“It hasn’t stopped and when we left the hoof marks were filling up with water so if racing had continued, I doubt we could have got through as there was a possibility of surface flooding.
“The real issue is this type of thing is happening far too often and we have to try and find a solution quick smart.
“The powers that be are trying hard to find a way to run the two-year-old race (Gr.3, 1200m) and the Taranaki Cup (Gr.3, 1800m) as they are important lead-up events to some bigger events in the next few weeks, so hopefully they can be saved.”
While disappointed at the outcome on the day, Sharrock was pleased to see Per Inaway lodge her second career victory as he believes she is a filly that can reach greater heights.
“She is a gorgeous filly, with her grandam being the dam of Tavistock,” he said.
“We’ve taken her along quietly as I don’t want to tax her too much this time in, but next season I can see her racing in stakes company and being very competitive.
“I’ll just potter around now and maybe take a look at the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) in April before we pop her aside for a break.”
Per Inaway is out of the Danasinga mare Inertia, a daughter of Upstage who is the dam of multiple Group One winner and successful Cambridge Stud-based sire Tavistock.
With a severe rain front currently crossing the lower North Island, the intention of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is for there to be an inspection of the Tauherenikau track (racing Monday February 7) early tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.
Confirmation of the Tauherenikau races and any relocation of the black-type races lost from Taranaki will be made at that point.
