Christmas has come early for Lance Robinson with the arrival of New Zealand Cup Week.
The Riccarton trainer looks forward to the Carnival every year and aims to give his owners something to barrack for.
“We concentrate on this week all winter. We try and get as many horses to the meeting as we can for our owners. They all want to be there for Cup Week,” Robinson said.
His owners will have plenty to cheer for on the middle day of the carnival, with Robinson set to line-up the triumvirate of Live Drama, Avaquinella and Adannaya in the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on Wednesday.
Group Three winner Live Drama heads the market with bookmakers at $4.50 ahead of last year’s winner Belclare at $4.80, with both Avaquinella and Adannaya rated $18 winning chances.
“Live Drama is going really well. I feel she is going as good as what she was last year if not a little bit better,” Robinson said.
“Her two lead-in races have been outstanding, she was carrying big weights and found the line well. She went to Ashburton the other day and had an exhibition gallop between races and we were really happy with that work. She strips a really fit horse tomorrow and I will be disappointed if she doesn’t run well.
“Adannaya went super (last week at Wingatui for second). She is in the form of her life and has never gone better. She goes into the race as good as we can have her and hopefully she runs well.
“We took Avaquinella down to Dunedin and Adannaya got up and beat her. She only beat her on fitness, Adanayya had a few more runs than her. She is going really well and ran second in the race last year. Kozzi Asano rode her last year and he is riding her again tomorrow. He knows her well.”
Live Drama is also entered for Saturday’s Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) and Robinson said she will take her place in the field if everything goes smoothly on Wednesday.
“We have paid up in the Stewards, so providing she comes through the run well and we are happy with her run tomorrow, she will run again,” he said.
Robinson could have a fourth runner in the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes, with Diagon Alley second on the ballot, but he is realistic about her chances of gaining a place in the field.
“She was unlucky on Saturday, she drew the outside gate, got a long way back and roared home to run fourth. She probably won’t get a run tomorrow. If she doesn’t get a run she will run on the last day,” he said.
Robinson will have a handful of other runners on Wednesday and has highlighted in-form gelding In Awe in the Bidfood Processing Premier (1800m) and Let’s Go in the Drug Alcohol Testing Specialist Premier (1400m) as his two best chances.
“In Awe has good form, a nice draw (11) and steps up to 1800m, which I think will really suit him. He will run really well,” he said.
“We have got a maidener in called Let’s Go. She trialled up nice a fortnight ago and we are hopeful that she will run well too.”
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