Life’s a beach for Cambridge trio
Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have utilised Ruakaka for a week stint in winter over the last few years, and they are hoping this year’s sojourn continues to reap rewards at the northern venue on Wednesday.
The Oaks Stud-bred and raced filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was one stable member that enjoyed her time in the Northland beach town, returning last month to win the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
Ritchie and Murray will return to Ruakaka on Wednesday with a trio of runners, and they are hoping they too can prosper following their week at the beach.
Three-year-old filly Transcend (So You Think) will carry the TAB Racing Club’s silks first-up in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 1200, and she is an even money favourite to break through for her maiden win.
The daughter of So You Think has just had the one prior start as a juvenile, finishing runner-up behind subsequent stakes performer Country Salon over 1200m at Trentham in May.
Ritchie said she enjoyed her time in Ruakaka and he is hoping that previous trip will help her settle in ahead of her race.
“Transcend can be a bit of a handful, a little bit flighty, and little things can make her a little nervy, which is why we took her up there and got her used to the beach,” he said.
“She has just landed there this (Tuesday) afternoon. We took her up the night before knowing that she will settle in well.
“She has always shown talent all the way through and given it is almost a home track for her, that is going to play a big part as well.
“Her galloping up there (Ruakaka) was excellent. She is going to run a very big race, it is going to take a nice sort of horse to beat her tomorrow.
“She has got a lovely draw (5) where she should get an economical trip. She is favourite and probably justifiably so.”
The stable will also line-up two mares for The Oaks Stud, including Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) hopefully Alaskan (NZ) (Niagara) in The Warkworth Inn 1400.
“Alaskan is coming back first-up from an Oaks prep,” Ritchie said. “She is a dead-set staying mare.
“I would think she will get out of her ground and run on strongly, but she has got bigger targets through the spring.
“She also holds a nomination for the New Zealand Cup, but I wouldn’t expect her to hit her best until she gets to 2000m.”
Fellow The Oaks Stud mare, and stablemate, Tempest Moon (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) will contest the Bridgehouse Warkworth 2100.
The five-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose was runner-up last start at Taupo over 1800m, and Ritchie is hopeful she can go one better on Wednesday.
“Tempest Moon just keeps improving,” he said. “She doesn’t have a great turn of foot, but she is extremely dour and keeps going.
“She is the sort of mare you would think would be hard to beat in a race like this.”
She will jump from the ace barrier with Bridget Grylls aboard.
“I am not sure barrier one is the greatest gate for her,” Ritchie said. “I would love to ride her cold and allow her to take off early and get around them because she can keep up a good gallop, and that would be the right way to ride her.
“She can’t do that from gate one given the fact you will be blocked back on the fence and you lose the opportunity of moving when you like. We are probably going to have to go forward again.
“She is going to win one of these fairly shortly if she doesn’t do so tomorrow.”
