Just like everyone else in Alice Springs, the Ray Viney stable is looking forward to the races on Sunday.
The Alice Springs Turf Club last hosted a meeting on July 14 before remedial work took place on Pioneer Park’s dirt surface.
Unfortunately, the track didn’t recover in time with the July 28 and August 10 meetings abandoned.
The Vineys have seven horses on deck in five of the six races this weekend, including eight-year-old mare Tango Stepz and eight-year-old gelding Cubic Zirconia in the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (1200m).
To qualify for the Final (BM66), a horse had to appear in at least one of the five heats.
Tango Stepz finished fourth over 1100m (0-64) on June 16, while Cubic Zirconia was third over 1100m (0-58) on June 30.
Tango Stepz, the daughter of Sidestep, and Cubic Zirconia, the son of Per Incanto, both hail from the Hunter Valley stables of Rod Northam (Scone) and Luke Thomas (Muswellbrook).
On July 14, Tango Stepz was victorious over 1200m (BM67) and Cubic Zirconia finished fourth over 1400m (0-58).
“I think Tango Stepz will run well, it’s a nice race for her and she gets in well with the weights,” Jaidyn Viney, son of Ray, said.
“I think she should be among the main chances if she can replicate her last performance.
“She’s been with us for just over a year, she’s won three for the stable.
“She’s been a consistent little money spinner for us and is owned by a good group of people.
“Cubic Zirconia should run really well, he’s a nice horse with a lot of ability.
“If he puts his best forward, he’s a very good chance.
“He’s still taking time to adjust running anti-clockwise.”
Should either Tango Stepz or Cubic Zirconia salute this weekend, it will be the Viney’s biggest prize.
It will surpass Duty’s win in a $30,000 race over 2000m (BM76) for horses that missed a start in the Alice Springs Cup on Cup Day on April 7.
“Having six weeks off did the horses the world of good, but it’s good to be back,” Jaidyn said.
“We’ve got a good team on the weekend.
“Beep Test, Strike Eagle and Square Cut are good chances.
“Pretty excited to see Square Cut back at the races, he’s probably one of our pinnacle horses in the stable.”
Square Cut, with three wins and seven minor placings from 11 Alice Springs starts, was disqualified after winning over 1000m (0-70) on March 30.
That led to a $3000 fine when the six-year-old gelding failed a post-race blood test.
The Vineys did consider taking horses to the Darwin Cup Carnival, however, it would have taken them time to acclimatise, and they would have only had a few weeks work.
“We had a much better season last year, improved again with 15 wins, so it’s exciting times ahead,” Jaidyn added.
“We’ve got 19 in the stable now, soon to be 22, so we’re ever expanding and we’ve got a couple of nice owners joining the stable.”
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