Orlov’s last visit to Wanganui produced a black-type placing behind a subsequent Group 1 performer, and the David Haworth-trained gelding has another assignment over that same course and distance in Saturday’s Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning (2040m).
Orlov has had five starts at Wanganui for a win and two placings.
The win came over that same 2040m trip in a Rating 90 handicap last April, and he returned there in November for a second placing in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m).
He was beaten by a long neck in that race by Whangaehu, who has subsequently won the Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) and finished third in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and fourth in the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
In his three starts since then, Orlov has run eighth in the Group 3 Manawatu Cup (2300m), 10th in the Group 3 Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) and an encouraging last-start fourth over 1600m at New Plymouth last Saturday.
“I thought he went really well at New Plymouth last time,” Haworth said.
“It was short of his best distance and a bit of an on-pace dominated race too, so I was quite happy with his run.
“It was a long way to go to give him a race that day, but we’d been trying to find something for about a month before then and hadn’t come up with anything suitable. So we didn’t really have much choice.
“I came away from that race pretty happy, and the horse has done very well since then. He should be all good for Saturday, where I think getting back up to 2040m will suit him.”
Haworth admits to a few headaches from planning Orlov’s campaign this season, and he is taking things one step at a time heading into the autumn.
“We’ll just get through this race first and then take it from there,” the Foxton trainer said.
“It’s been very hard to make a plan in our part of the country lately. You’ve had meetings scheduled in certain places, and then they’ve been moved around to different tracks. It’s been a hard season.
“But if the horse runs well tomorrow, we’ll look to continue a bit further into the autumn.”
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing statistics credit Haworth with 493 winners in New Zealand, and he will saddle two runners at Wanganui on Saturday as he creeps closer to his milestone 500th.
Haworth’s second runner is Cut Loose in the Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club Maiden (1340m).
The Derryn gelding did a very good job to finish fourth on debut at Otaki on Boxing Day, having lost his footing leaving the starting gates before being caught three wide without cover throughout the race.
In his only other start, Cut Loose was a last-start second placegetter over the very similar distance of 1360m at Wanganui on February 21. He was beaten by a short neck by Santarelli.
“He’s run really well in both starts so far,” Haworth said.
“He didn’t have much luck in his first run, then went pretty close at Wanganui last time. The horse has been working very well. Blinkers go on for the first time on Saturday and he’s drawn nicely (gate five). He should be a good chance.”
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