Courtney Barnes will continue her busy holiday riding
period with seven rides at Gore tomorrow. Photo by Stephen
Jaquiery.
A couple of new assignments are in store for Mosgiel
rider Courtney Barnes at Gore tomorrow.
Barnes, who is apprenticed to Brian and Shane Anderton, has
seven rides at the Tapanui Racing Club's meeting at Gore and
she is just getting to grips with several of her engagements
for the day.
Barnes will do more research today on the likes of Loose
Goose (race 5) and Tuatap (race 7), whom she is yet to ride.
She is slightly more familiar with The Boys (race 8), who
looms as her best chance, after the Seasoned Star mare went
back and off the pace at Ascot Park last Saturday. Her
barrier draw of three gives Barnes plenty more options when
the gates open at the 2000m in the Tapanui Cup.
''She'll go forward and the barrier will help,'' Barnes said.
''I think there was probably a lot of speed in the race [at
Ascot Park] and everything that went forward on the day
seemed to win.''
The Boys has been good enough to win over 2000m in the past,
winning a rating 75 at Omakau
in March with relative ease. She was down in the weights that
day, and will carry 56kg tomorrow with Barnes' 3kg claim
alleviating the 59kg top weight.
She is hoping for more luck and less tardiness from Personal
Justice (race 1), who has been slow away in her recent
assignments, although Barnes expects the mare will get back
again.
Just Frank (race 2) has been chased down after leading early
and despite drawing barrier nine, Barnes is likely to employ
similar tactics again tomorrow.
Avechii (race 4) has got into the 1200m maiden off the ballot
and Barnes feels all is not lost despite two eighths in his
race engagements to date, particularly with a helpful draw in
barrier two, while All Spice (race 6) is up against a strong
field in the the open sprint with Recording and Infallible
likely to dominate the betting, but Barnes was not too
disappointed with his run for sixth at Ascot Park after
getting cramped for room around the home turn.
''He'll hopefully run on a wee bit.''
Additional information for meetings today.-
Manawatu RC Scratchings
Race 5: Don't Dilly Dally
Weather, cloudy; track, dead (4); rail, true.
Waikato RC
Weather, cloudy; track, dead (4); rail, out 4m.
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