Local trainer Chrissy Bambry is looking forward to lining up a handful of runners at Awapuni on Saturday, should the Government announce an easing in alert levels.
It is an important meeting for Group One performer Deerfield ahead of one of his key targets of the spring, the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on September 11.
The eight-year-old gelding finished fifth in the race last year and will prepare for this year’s running with a hit-out in the Humphries Construction 1100 this weekend.
He has been lumbered with 63kg, however, he will get some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Ashvin Mudhoo’s three-kilogram claim.
“It is unfortunate that in Open Handicaps that is the weight he has to carry, but he is the best horse in the race,” Bambry said.
“He has been working really well so I expect him to be right there in the finish. He is pretty tough and loves a dog-fight, he won’t be giving in.”
Bambry said he showed that determined attitude last start when fighting back against race victor Tavi Mac at Otaki last month.
“He was really good,” she said. “He just didn’t get a kick on them like we thought he might on the turn, but Johnathan (Parkes, jockey) was really happy with him and said he was really fighting back at the end and if it was another 50m he would have gone close to getting back in front.
“He pulled up really well after that and had a week in the paddock. I am just trying to keep him fresh and give him a run before he heads to the Tarzino.”
Deerfield will be joined in the race by stablemate Spring Tide who is also heading towards the Hastings Spring Carnival where he will contest the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) on October 16.
He finished sixth last start in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) after two consecutive wins, but pleased Bambry with his subsequent 850m trial win at Foxton earlier this month.
“The ground was too puggy for him at Taranaki,” Bambry said. “We were happy to bowl along in that trial and he won that pretty easy.
“I wasn’t initially going here with him but with the uncertainty of racing I thought we would run while we can, if we head back into level 3.
“He will sit behind the speed and hopefully be running home.”
On the undercard, Bambry will line-up Dubai’s Moko in the Lineal Construction 1100, Lava Rock in the Aberdeen On Broadway 1550, and Princess Biddy in the Higgins Concrete 3YO (1200m).
“Dubai’s Moko is really unpredictable and she is at that rating point where it is really hard to get a run in a 65, so I have dropped her back to 1100m to make sure she gets a run,” Bambry said.
“She has been working well and I have just been trying to keep her fresh with the drop back to 1100m.
“Lava Rock is having his first run back on Saturday. He trialled really nicely against some pretty nice horses over 1000m. Whilst I think he is looking for more ground, it would be nice to see him running on.
“With Princess Biddy, being on debut is always hard, you never know what is going to happen with first starters, but she has shown me enough in her work.
“Yeaboi is a stakes placed horse and has heavy track form so he will be hard to beat, as will a couple of others.”
