Debit looking to cash in at Te Rapa

Debit will put her picket fence form line on the line at Te Rapa on Sunday when she contests the Power Farming – We Keep Growing 1200.

The six-year-old mare placed on debut in May 2023 but has been unbeaten in her subsequent four starts, and trainer Peter Lock is looking forward to getting her back to the races this weekend.

She hasn’t raced since winning over 1340m at Wanganui last November, but has enjoyed a long and slow build-up, heading to the trials on four occasions over the last three months and has showed good progression, culminating in winning her 1150m heat at Te Awamutu last month.

“Every trial she has got better and better,” Lock said. “In her last trial, Courtney (Barnes, jockey) got off her and said she thought she was spot on.

“She came over on Wednesday morning to Te Aroha and galloped on the course proper and she was very happy with the way she worked.

“We are pretty happy with the way she is at the moment.”

Debit has drawn barrier two on Sunday and Lock is hopeful the track, which was rated a Heavy 9 on Friday morning, doesn’t deteriorate any further.

“It is just a shame that it’s later in the day (race six),” Lock said. “Hopefully the track will hold up a bit better, but if it drops out a little bit you are probably better off a little bit wider.

“She has got a lot of speed, so she should be able to dictate where she wants to be, so fingers crossed.

“It is an extremely good field of horses fresh-up, but I would be happy if she ran in the first four.”

Lock will also be represented at the meeting by last-start placegetter Fabulous Gal in the Thank You For Standing With Kidney Kids New Zealand 1600.

“She has come through that run extremely well,” Lock said. “She worked with Debit on Wednesday morning and I couldn’t have been happier with the way she went.”

A day prior at New Plymouth, stablemate Pick of the Litter will line-up in the Kiwi Butcher (2000m) after being the fourth emergency for her intended target, the NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3210m).

“We will run in Open 2000m, which is probably not ideal because she is only a rating 75 horse,” Lock said.

“Things just didn’t go her way the other day (when sixth over 2200m), they jumped out and crawled and then sprinted home, which doesn’t suit her, she likes the pace on.

“Hopefully there will be a bit more speed on down there. I think she is better left-handed than she is right-handed, and Chris Dell (jockey) is riding in good form.”

She will be joined on the float trip south from their Te Aroha base by stablemate Miss Anne Lee, who will be first-up in the Wash Squad Sprint (990m).

“The maidener hasn’t had a race for 12 months, but she won a trial very impressively in the Heavy ground at Waipa and we have always had a big rap on her,” Lock said.

“We hold her in pretty high regard, she has got a lot of speed and likes bad ground.”