Racing: Weight drop to suit Hexie Hao

Hexie Hao and Shankar Muniandy take on open-class rivals in the Amberley Cup at Riccarton...
Hexie Hao and Shankar Muniandy take on open-class rivals in the Amberley Cup at Riccarton tomorrow. Photo by Matt Smith.
A drop down the weight scale could be just what Hexie Hao is after in tomorrow's $25,000 Amberley Cup at Riccarton.

The Wingatui specialist battled on well for third at his home track three weeks ago, and his jockey, Shankar Muniandy, thinks a 1.5kg drop in the weights could make the difference.

''His run [at Wingatui] was pretty good,'' Muniandy said.

''He carried 59kg and only stopped in the last 50m.''

''He's only got 57.5kg and it's a big help from last time.''

The Claire and Hec Anderton-trained gelding won over 1600m at Wingatui in March last year, and Muniandy thinks the distance will suit him fine once again provided the track does too.

''You don't want it to be too heavy - dead5 or dead6 would suit him pretty good,'' he said.

''If it stayed that way, he would be a good chance.

''He's had a run or two under his belt, and he was spot on in his gallop the other day.''

Hexie Hao is not a front-runner, but is best just behind the speed, a spot which seems possible from his barrier 5 draw.

''He normally races handy third or fourth so if I'm second or third turning for home, I'll be pretty happy.''

Hexie Hao's stablemate, Lucille, is also a chance to benefit from a drop in weight when she carries 54.5kg in the rating 75 1800m.

The Remind mare is in top form, backing up a second at Oamaru on May 22 with a win at the same venue 16 days later.

''She won her last start pretty good and the start before she ran second and just got beaten carrying 57kg, and she's only a wee horse,''

''When she won last start she was only carrying 55kg. She's got another light weight tomorrow and she will be a good chance again and 1800m will suit her better.''

Muniandy has three other rides, and feels Pienza, a promoted winner two starts back, will use her barrier speed to get handy.

She ran fifth at Timaru in her most recent start and had to race wide for a large part of the race.

''She's an honest galloper and didn't have much luck in the run and stuck on all right. It's an awkward draw [14], but it will jump and put itself there.''

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