Terri Rae hopes to continue a flow of winning performances by her consistent team of gallopers at Ashburton on Thursday.
Among her recent successes has been promising filly Kindling Spark, with the lightly-tried daughter of Manhattan Rain set for a black-type challenge following a start as likely-favourite in the Farm Source (1600m).
“It really suits her getting over a bit of ground at the mile and she’s getting better each time with a bit more ringcraft,” Rae said.
“It’s not an overly strong field on Thursday, she should be pretty hard to beat at her best.
“All going well through tomorrow, she’ll line up in the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Riccarton on April 13.”
Seven-year-old sprinter Rockland (Snitzel) will look to build on a solid second-placed finish behind Listed Lincoln Farms Lightning Handicap (1200m) contender Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) at Wingatui last-start when lining up in the Agraforum Comcat (1200m).
“He’s just a horse who needs everything going his way, a good track, the right sort of tempo, and a good draw,” Rae said.
“We’re trying to make the most of the good tracks while they’re still here.
“He’s usually pretty honest, he can get some not so helpful draws which is when he’s been stuck wide or gone back, but if we can get him in a good handy position, he should go a good race.”
Lisa Allpress will venture south to continue a long-time association with Rae in partnering Rockland, while local hoop Kylie Williams will attempt to complete a hat-trick of victories aboard Spot On Time (NZ) (Time Test) in the Good Luck Team Barneswood Farm (1400m).
“Spot On Time has kept stepping up each time we’ve asked, and he’s a pretty genuine sort of horse,” Rae said.
“After tomorrow, we’ll look for a nice race for him over Easter, then he won’t be far off going out for a spell.”
Meanwhile, stable stars Dazzling Miss (NZ) (Proisir) and Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) are being prepared for more lucrative targets after the talented pair comfortably quinellaed the Open 1400m race at Riccarton Park last Thursday.
“Dazzling Miss will run in the Breeders’ (Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, 1600m) next Saturday (March 23),” Rae said.
The $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) is the final of five Entain/TAB innovation races of the season, with all horses trained by a South Island-based trainer eligible for entry for the Riccarton Park feature on April 13.
Rae is hopeful Savabeel gelding Sir Albert will be one of eight non-automatic qualifiers, as six places will be filled by winners of three ‘Golden Ticket’ races, alongside the first three home in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m).
“Albert will go straight into the Southern Alps Challenge, he just needed a few more rating points to ensure he would make the field. There are only eight spots as he hasn’t won a qualifying race, so it was just a matter of getting him a place,” she said.
“He won’t race again, he may have a trial or an exhibition gallop, but it’s best to keep him fresh, which he appreciates over the shorter distances.”
Rae currently lies 11th on the National Trainers’ Premiership with 25 winners, mostly impressively due to having just 17 horses in her Riccarton Park stable, accumulating a strike-rate of 3.84. Despite already equalling her last-season’s winning total, Rae remains focussed on each raceday as they come.
“I don’t usually think too far ahead, I just try to get the horses to put their best foot forward being consistent and happy, without putting too much thought into setting goals,” she said.
