By Jonny Turner
Got You Covered will freefall down in grade and land in his happy place on Saturday.
The grass track specialist will attempt to add another grass track feature to his already impressive resume when starting in the Geraldine Cup at Orari.
Though Got You Covered takes on a stellar line up in the staying test, he does step back in class given he mixed it with Australasia’s best pacers in his last start in the New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington.
After copping a horror gate in barrier 9, the horse pleased co-trainer Brent White with his effort for seventh for Blair Orange.
“Blair got off and said he’s run a nice race, so we were rapt with that,” White said.
“He didn’t get much luck from the draw but he did well.”
“This is his first time dipping his toes in the water against the really good ones and he has done a good job.”
Kimberly Butt drives the Brent and Tim White trained Got You Covered in Saturday’s Geraldine Cup.
The last time the pair combined on a grass they produced a ripping fourth in the Methven Cup, only denied a bigger slice when running out of room late.
With a little more luck on Saturday and horse and driver will be a big force.
“He seems to have come through Cup Week pretty good, we have been pretty happy with his work,” White said.
“It just depends on what sort of run we get and how it all pans out.”
“We will just throw the reins at Kim tomorrow and tell her to go drive the race of your life and enjoy it.”
Got You Covered goes into the Geraldine Cup the winner of the Waimate Cup, the Waikouaiti Cup and the Motukarara Christmas Cup.
The pacer opened was rated the $6.50 third favourite in early betting for Saturday’s feature, behind Franco Marek ($3.80) and Anything Goes ($4.80).
Franco Marek is sure to strip fitter after his first-up ninth in last weekend’s Timaru Cup.
Anything Goes goes into the Geraldine Cup after running a tough third after copping a mid-race attack in his last start in the Aged Sales Series Pace at Kaikoura.
The Brent and Tim White stable also starts Bobby Waterhouse in race 12.
The three-year-old follows out Seabrooke from barrier 1 on the second row.
“It is quite a nice field on paper and there are a number of chances and a few horses that can get off the gate.”
“It will all depend on what the horse in front of us does and what sort of run we get.”
“She does look to have a bit of ability.”
“If we can stay handy we have got to be a place chance anyway.”
Kimberly Butt also takes the reins behind Bobby Waterhouse.
