Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson has plenty of time for his promising juvenile Alottago (Tagaloa) and he is hoping the Tagaloa gelding can end his season on a high at his local meeting on Saturday.
Alottago has had just the two starts to date, finishing third in both outings, including last start behind Bona Sforza and Zelia in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m).
Robinson was rapt with his performance in his first stakes test and is confident of an improved result over further ground this weekend.
While confident of a bold showing, Robinson does hold concerns about competing on a Heavy surface, with rain forecast in Christchurch for the remainder of the week.
“He has done well since his last start, we are really happy with him,” Robinson said. “I think the 1200m will really suit him. My only concern is whether he cops a real heavy track or not. We have got to run to find out, so we are going to find out.”
Northern hoop Triston Moodley partnered Alottago in his first two starts, but with riding commitments at Te Rapa on Saturday, he will be replaced by Kate Hercock.
“Kate Hercock takes the ride. She won a trial on him, so she knows him well,” Robinson said.
Following Saturday’s run, Alottago will head for a spell ahead of a spring campaign.
“We have got a very high opinion of him,” Robinson said. “We will get this one over and done with and he will have a nice spell, and hopefully we will get him ready for some nice three-year-old races in the spring.”
Robinson will also be represented on Saturday by Mr Bully Tee (NZ) (Complacent) in the Rating 75 1800m event.
The five-year-old son of Complacent won two races in March before finishing sixth in the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m), and Robinson is hopeful he can return to winning form this weekend.
“We were really pleased with his run in the big race at Riccarton the other day, I thought he went really well,” Robinson said. “He has come through that run in great shape, I am really happy with him.”
Earlier in the week, Robinson will have strong representation at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, with the local horseman particularly buoyant about the chances of Grasshopper (NZ) (El Roca) in the Grandstand Eatery In The Phar Lap Maiden (1600m).
“We have a big day on the synthetic on Thursday with nine runners. Quite a few of them are kicking off, and a lot of them are synthetic horses,” Robinson said.
“We have got a maidener, Grasshopper, she should run well and will be hard to beat.”
