The father and daughter training partnership of Ken Rae and Krystal Williams will take a two-pronged attack into the main race at Reefton on Tuesday, the Ken Gray Memorial Reefton Cup (1400m).
Rae and Williams will back-up both The Buffer (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer) in the event after the pair contested the Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday with contrasting fortunes.
While Follow Your Dreams was narrowly beaten into fourth, sentimental favourite The Buffer couldn’t capitalise on a nice run in the trail, battling on to finish beyond midfield behind impressive winner Regal Dice.
Williams is confident an improvement in track conditions, with the Reefton surface currently rated a Slow7, will play in favour of both candidates.
“On the face of it The Buffer may have looked a little disappointing but I think he got tripped up by a sticky type of track and he may have also not had the race fitness he needed,” Williams said.
“He had a blow after he pulled up and will strip a lot fitter for Tuesday.
“I also think being back to 1400m will suit and with the fine weather predicted through until Tuesday he will get a track he prefers.
“It was great to see Follow Your Dreams back to somewhere near his best as he had a pretty terrible winter.
“He just copped a check when a couple stopped on him on Saturday and off his work leading into that race I think he could be a very good chance this week.”
The stable will have six stable runners on hand at Reefton with Williams keen on the chances of Berbizier (Race 4) and The Roaring Tiger (Race 8) in their respective events.
“The Roaring Tiger (NZ) (Holler) went well at Cromwell to finish third over 1400m and then ran on nicely over 1200m at Kumara last time,” she said.
“He is another who will be suited by a better track and with his work of late I’d expect him to be prominent in race eight.
“Berbizier (Foxwedge) is a bit of a trick horse as one day he is very good and completely the opposite next time.
“The track will suit him as it can be quite a tight circuit and we have been joking about giving all our horses plenty of practice at home going around corners.
“He won’t mind that and if he can overcome a wide barrier (8) and topweight (59.5kgs) then he can be right in it.”
