Racing in Southland has been far from smooth sailing this season, and Gore’s Wednesday meeting will mark the start of several campaigns for Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid’s team of horses.
Inclement weather has caused havoc in the region with cancellations of several jump-outs, alongside the raceday scheduled at the venue on September 22, which was transferred north to Oamaru.
“We’ve had a few setbacks, it’s been that wet that we couldn’t have jump-outs, trials, we couldn’t do anything,” Eade said.
“We do the best of our ability, but our horses are working on such wet surfaces that when they strike a nice track, they don’t know where they are. We’ve got a sand track here at Riverton and it’s good one day, then not so good the next. It’s very weather-situated, but we’re lucky to have it.
“It’s been very difficult down here this year, probably the worst I’ve ever seen.
“But things are starting to dry out and it’ll be great to be racing locally this week.”
Eade’s stakes performer Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) will step out to 2000m for the first time at the meeting off a recommendation from Jasmine Fawcett, who rode the gelding to a creditable fifth in the Ashburton Cup (1600m) last Saturday.
“Jasmine thought that he was quite a nice horse, and with a bit more distance, we would get a result,” Eade said.
“I have been wanting to step him up for a while now, I always thought he would get the trip so I’m looking forward to it. He’s very strong at the start of his races and takes a fair bit of holding which we didn’t want happening in a distance race, so we’ve taken the visor blinkers off to settle him down a bit.
“We had intended to go towards Cup Week, but when we took him up there (Riccarton) last time, he jarred up quite a bit, particularly the next day, so we didn’t want to take him back if we could help it.
“We’ve had a wee bit of drizzle this morning and I think it’s a Heavy 8 at the moment, so it will help him out on Wednesday.”
The son of Pure Champion will line-up in the Kevin Coyle Memorial (2000m), a race that will also feature stablemate The Tui Toiler (NZ) (Highly Recommended).
“He was a bit disappointing in his last couple of starts, but when you look back on what he’s achieved, it’s all been on soft tracks,” Eade said.
“He was the same after Riccarton, jarring up quite badly so we’ll try to keep him off those firmer tracks if we can.”
The Riverton trainers will have a trio of horses lining up across the Paddy’s Bins Maiden (1200m) and Hokonui Rural Transport (1200m), including Orepuki Gem (NZ) (Raise The Flag), a full-brother to Eade’s stakes-winning stayer Orepuki Lad.
“He’s a full-brother to Orepuki Lad who won the Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) and Invercargill Gold Cup, so he’s bred for distance,” Eade said.
“We would’ve liked to get a couple of trials into him, he’s been a wee bit of a handful. Seeing it’s his first race, we’ll start off here and have a look.”
Lightly-tried mare Intercept (NZ) (War Decree) will return off a long spell in the latter, benefitting from a claim courtesy of in-form apprentice Denby-Rose Tait.
“She has developed into a very nice horse, she likes firmer ground but she didn’t made the field at Wingatui,” he said.
“She’s by War Decree and we quite like her.”
Enigmatic galloper Ataahua Pipedream (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) rounds out the day in the Auto Funds (1335m), with a heavy track playing host to all three of his career successes.
“On his day, and he’s got a mind of his own, he can go a tremendous race. It’s all up to him and in his head, but he suits the wetter track,” Eade said.
“The track was quite good at Wingatui, so that’s what we put it down too. He’s getting to an age where he may be looking for a bit more distance.”
