Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe.
Richardson was first successful in the blue riband sprinting contest back in 1997 with Kailey before striking gold once again in 2018 with outstanding mare Volpe Veloce.
He believes Bonny Lass is well-qualified to add her name to the winner’s list for the race after she impressed when running third behind race rivals Maven Belle and Babylon Berlin in a 1000m trial on her home track prior to Christmas.
“We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson said.
“It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race.
“I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her.
“The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.”
Richardson and Norvall have a small but strong support team in on the day with two of their four runners lining up in the first race on the card, a special conditions maiden over 1500m, where To Catch a Thief will look to put his first win on the board after finishing third in eight of his nine starts, with three of those at Group One level, including his most recent effort behind Crocetti in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
“This looks a nice race for To Catch A Thief as long as it doesn’t get too wet,” Richardson said.
“It is the perfect lead in for the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) next month so we would like to run if we can get the track to suit.
“He has thrived since coming home from Riccarton and is just the coolest horse to do anything with as he is so laidback and has been like that since his first day in the stable.
“He has a nomination for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and we would like to see if we can get him there as they are only three once and this is his shot at the race.
“We also have Sorghaghtani entered who did well to run third off a 13-month break last time and has come on from that.
“She is going to be better over more ground, but this is all part of getting her back racing regularly and we like her a lot.”
The stable’s fourth runner on the day is two-year-old filly Lotus in the Gr.2 SKYCITY Eclipse Stakes (1200m) where she has the formidable task of taking on ultra impressive debut winner Move To Strike and the current TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) favourite Velocious.
“She (Lotus) has good ability but it is a big ask against some of those other horses in the race with better form credentials,” he said.
“It is only a small field (8) and if she could sneak in and get some black type to her name then it would be a job well done.”
