Lance Robinson won’t have to trek too far this week, with the Riccarton trainer set to line-up five runners at his home track’s synthetic double-header meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.
Robinson is hopeful he can strike early on the opening day, with his two contenders Highland Fling and Delphillius both finishing runner-up on the surface in their last starts, and he is hoping they can go one better in the Book A Suite Mid-Winter Xmas 22 June Rating 60 (1400m) and Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) respectively.
“Highland Fling runs well on the synthetic, he really enjoys it,” Robinson said. “He has come up really well this year. He has gone two top races, he has got a good draw (4) tomorrow, so he should run well.
“Delphillius has a better draw (5) tomorrow and I have put Kendra (Bakker) on to claim three (kilograms). She races up on the speed and loves the synthetic, so she should be very competitive.”
Robinson will return to Riccarton’s polytrack on Thursday to line-up Let’s Go in the Grand National Tickets On ale Maiden (1400m), and Anneliese and Waihora Mist in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1600m).
“Let’s Go trialled well on it (synthetic track) earlier on and she has just had a couple of minor issues, so she has had a bit of a break,” Robinson said.
“She is coming up nicely but possibly may just need a run on Thursday and is mare that likes a wet track too. But we will just get a guide on her and see how she goes tomorrow.
“It is an awkward draw (13) for Anneliese, but Warren (Kennedy) is on and he will work it out, but she should be very hard to beat.
“Waihora Miss is first-up and has been working well. I don’t think she has ever raced on the synthetic, but she was in at Timaru the other day and of course they called it off. It is a good race at home to step her off in. She is a mare that loves winter tracks, so whatever she does on Thursday she will really improve on.”
