Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will be on weather watch this Christmas ahead of Riot And Rose (NZ) (Pins) engagement in the Listed Lord Stakes at the Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.
“We’ll probably just keep an eye on that hot weather, if it looks like it’s going to get too warm, we might elect just to keep him at home,” Coleman said.
“He has shown before that he doesn’t handle those really hot days all that well, so we’ll just keep an eye on that.
“They’ve brought the races forward now, so hopefully that’s not an issue and he had a piece of work here at Pakenham on Saturday morning, which was really pleasing, and he just seems to be really enjoying his work at the moment, which you love to see.”
Riot And Rose is the $3.30 favourite with Sportsbet for the Lord Stakes on Thursday, following on from his recent wins in the Wodonga Cup and Werribee Cup.
“He seems to be in a really good spot at the moment,” Coleman said.
“He’s obviously pretty lightly raced with a few setbacks throughout his career, nothing major but any minor niggle that you can imagine, he’s had it.
“It’s very, very rewarding to have him back at the races and racing so well for his connections when they’ve had to be so patient with him.”
Coleman elaborated on the issues that the seven-year-old gelding has faced in his career, where he’s won seven of his 15 starts.
“Our farrier, Matt Martin’s done an incredible job with him, he’s just had a few foot issues along the way and Matt’s done a really good job, worked with him while he was in pre training,” she said.
“He spelled down at Rosemont Stud, the crew down there did a fantastic job with him while he was spelling as well to really manage his feet and that work seems to be paying off.
“This time around, touch wood, he’s been the soundest he’s ever been.”