Matscot pulled off one of the biggest wins in his career in last year’s inaugural $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) and he’ll be back at Riccarton Park on Saturday to defend his crown.
The talented son of Haradasun had previously won the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) but has really stepped up in top company since his Alps triumph, placing in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) and was fifth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
While considering the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) as an option, his trainers Alan Reeves and Sharon Robertson opted to bring their gelding back to the South Island where he needed two starts to qualify for the innovation race.
“He’s been going huge in the big races, we could’ve gone on to Ellerslie for the Bonecrusher but we thought it would be tough to beat the top two (El Vencedor and La Crique), so we were better off coming back and targeting this race,” Reeves said.
The first of those came in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m), where he finished a game third behind Our Echo, then ticked over nicely in a 1400m contest at Riccarton on March 22.
“He needed two starts in the South Island this year to run in the race, so we used that race as a trial to get a start,” Reeves said. “He was no show coming back to 1400.
“The horse is going well, he drew well on Saturday and Joe (Doyle’s) back on so there are plenty of positives for him. Plus, he loves Riccarton.”
Doyle was aboard when Matscot took the lion’s share of the $350,000 purse 12 months ago, and this time, he’ll carry 1.5kg less in weight, as well as a drawing a preferred gate in two.
“He’s been jumping well lately so I can’t see that draw being a problem, Joe said that down at Wingatui he jumped well but he had to haul him back from the outside draw and ended up three-wide,” Reeves said.
“He jumped well again in the sprint race, so I think he should get a beautiful run from the draw.”
Matscot is currently second-favourite on the TAB market at $4.80, just shy of frequent rival Perfect Scenario ($4.40).
