Riccarton Trackwork Update

Riccarton Park track work update - Tuesday 25 September -

Over night rain measuring 8mls softened the No.6 grass track to a dead6/slow7 for this morning's fast work. The plough was closed which resulted in a higher than normal usage rate for the big sand. Squally, continuous light rain in cold conditions was the order of the session.

Best on the grass was the Pitman trained Zakynthos (Morris) which galloped solo from the 800m in 47.3 with the last 600m taking 23.6. Stablemate Carson's River (Lemaitre) also impressed when he went over 600m in 35.5 to finish the gallop two lengths clear of his unknown galloping partner.

The Didham trained Rawmaterial (Young) and Imelda's Girl (Downing) were timed from 600m in 35.8 and the 600m in 23.6. Two other stablemates Jin Lu (Young) and Freight Train Jane (Downings) were sent over the same trip in 37.6 and 24.6.

Akoya Pearl (Mitchell) galloped solo and could only be timed from the 400m which took 24.5. Barabas (Morris) was alone from the 800m in 49.6 with the last 400m in 24.0. Ticky Tu (Searle) went from the 600m with an unknown companion in 36.5.

Ride The Storm (Morris) and Jamie (Morgan) were timed together from the 600m in 37.6 with the final 600m taking 24.6. Nakyama (K Mudoo) galloped alone from the 1000m in 1.06.4, the final 600m in 36.9.

The Ross Beckett stable produced Beneficial for a very good second at Riccarton Park on Saturday and others coming through that look the part are Recommended Flight (Pupil) and an unnamed Highly Recommneded gelding which were paired together over 800m in 53.8, the last 600m 37.4. The stable also produced an unnamed three-year-old Power gelding and an unnamed four-year-old mare by Nom de Jeu which were timed together from the 600m in 36.4.

Kolonel Kev (Rae) galloped alone from the 1000m in 1.06.4, the last 600m in 38.5. Clara (Rae) was timed only from the 600m in 38.7. Word Of Mouth (Jess Morris) was only out to three-quarter pace while Irish Call (Mitchell) and Wagner went an easy 800 in 56.2, the last 600m in 40.9. Too Precious (Murphy) was timed from the 800m in 54.3 but quickened up for the final 600m in 36.4.

The Te Akau Racing team were given light duties after its highly successful weekend with Puysegur (Richards) and In A Twinkling (Kararuddin) paired on the grass from the 600m in 42.3 with the final 400m in 27.5. Richard Of Yorke (Richards) and Our Flying Ace (Kararuddin) half-paced two laps of the big sand. Summer Monsoon (Richards) and Bak Da Master (Kararuddin) were exercised in the centre of the course.

From the Pike Stable Sacred Quartz (Kareem) which was a late scratching at the barrier on Saturday but was uninjured was three-quarter paced from the 1000m and breezed up in the straight. Winning charge Blue Lagoon (Kareem) was confined to two laps of the big sand

Late in the session from the 800m mark Savason (Morris) was timed to run 50.8, the last 600m in 36.3. Enzo's Lad (Morgan) went from the 600m in 38.9, the last 400m in 25.5. For the same trip Why Me (Shaikh) recorded 39.0 and 25.8. Pinup Coup (Morgenwood) went a leisurly 600m in 44.9 while Coup Dreamwood (Morris) for the same journey took 44.3.

Credit - Brian De Lore