Wet track specialist She’s A Maneater (NZ) (Reliable Man) showed her class on a testing winter surface when she produced a powerful performance to win fresh-up over 1200m at Tauranga on Saturday.
Trainer Peter Lock rolled the dice on starting the five-year-old daughter of Reliable Man over the sprint journey as she had never won under a distance of 1600m in her career to date.
With the Heavy10 rated surface proving a tough ask for many runners on the day, She’s A Maneater and apprentice Maria Sanson made light work of the task as they dived between runners in the home straight to win with plenty in hand.
Lock had been struggling to get a gauge on just how fit he had his charge in the build-up to the meeting but a trip away to Matamata a fortnight ago convinced him she was well on track to kick off her new campaign.
“It’s quite tough to get a line on them on the synthetic tracks we have been working her on and I just wasn’t sure if she was ready or not,” he said.
“We put her on the float and took her to Matamata for a jumpout and then for another hit-out a week later and she really tightened up nicely.
“With Maria’s 3kg claim she looked like a good prospect on Saturday and when they got so much rain leading into the meeting, I was pretty confident she would be hard to beat.
“She hasn’t won over such a short trip before but it was more like 1400m on that track and I know she slept pretty well last night after a tough run.”
She’s A Maneater holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 6, however Lock is reluctant to commit to making the trip given just how tough a journey it can be from his Te Aroha base.
“We nominated her for the Winter Cup at Riccarton and I definitely think on a wet track she could win the race, but I’m just not sure about going down there given what it all entails,” he said.
“It is a hell of a long way on a float and the same coming back and it could completely end her season if things didn’t go to plan.
“I will have a chat with her owners, but I’m keen to keep her closer to home and look for black type against her own sex around here.”
Raced by Rod Duke and Gerard Peterson under his Gee Gee Equine banner, She’s A Maneater has now won five of her 12 career starts.
Lock was also delighted with the performance of stablemate Dawn Jessie (NZ) (Sun Ruler) who battled on gamely to finish second behind the Rudy Liefting-trained Mont Ventoux (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) in the Seeka Kiwifruit Cup (2100m).
“Rudy’s horse was always going to be the toughest to beat but I was thrilled with the way Dawn Jessie just kept giving to finish second,” Lock said.
“She is being aimed at the stayers final up at Ruakaka next month and I think she will be cherry ripe for that one on a better track that she will definitely appreciate.”
Lock advised progressive mare Faithful Feat (NZ) (Per Incanto) was another who was working along nicely in the early stages of a new preparation.
“She (Faithful Feat) spelled out at Henley Park and she has come back looking a picture,” he said.
“She has always been a little weak and immature even though she has done a great job for us.
“I have said I think she could be the best I’ve trained and now she looks like she has finally strengthened up she could show that this coming season.
“My great desire is to win the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham and we went close with Hiflyer a couple of years ago, but I think if this mare can learn to relax just a little more than she could be the one who achieves that goal for me.”
