The Riccarton trainer’s team is headed by Pretty Good Excuse, the early favourite for today’s Amberley Cup at Riccarton, and Meursault, who lines up as an outside hope in the Tauranga Classic.
Meursault is in consistent form and comes into today’s race on the back of a fourth in the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham in May.
"It’s always been the plan for her to go up to Tauranga and 1400m is her best distance — she struggles to get a strong mile [1600m]," Carston said.
To win, the mare must overcome her 30-1 opening odds and the classy favourite, the Illone Kelly-trained New York Minute.
Pretty Good Excuse is in career-best form and could earn herself a Winter Cup start with a win in today’s Amberley Cup at Riccarton.
"She’s definitely going as well as ever," Carston said.
"When she came to me she was a rating 55 mare and couldn’t get a start. Now, she’s won eight races in the South Island and more than $100,000."
Pretty Good Excuse moved to $3.50 favouritism with bookmakers last night after the scratching of Aspen Lass.
Proven mudlark Miss Three Stars opened on the second line of betting at $3.90 and she should get a track to suit her after the Riccarton surface was rated heavy throughout this week.
Trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman have a big hand in today’s open sprint, race 4, with Flying Ibis and Dynamic.
Flying Ibis opened an equal $3.20 favourite with TAB bookmakers alongside the Kevin Myers-trained Caramac.
Despite those odds, Michael Pitman prefers Dynamic over today’s 1200m trip.
"Dynamic is such an honest horse and he is more of a 1200m type than Flying Ibis," he said.
"He’s come through the grades quickly and the claim helps."
Dynamic will link with Pitman stable apprentice Parvesh Shaikh and have the benefit of his 2kg claim, while Chris Johnson will ride Flying Ibis.
Caramac and 2kg claiming rider Danielle Hirini are shooting for a hat-trick of wins in today’s race after winning at Blenheim in April before running away to the easiest of victories at Oamaru last start.
Today’s meeting will be the last chance for Johnson to add to his jockey’s premiership tally of 104 wins.
Johnson has four riding days on the sideline that will result in his missing tomorrow’s Te Aroha meeting, as well as Rotorua on Wednesday, Waverley on Thursday and Wingatui on Friday.
Wingatui rider Jacob Lowry is heading in a different direction, returning to riding after being out of action for two weeks with suspension.
Lowry returns with a strong but select book of four rides on today’s card. — Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk.
● Additional information for meetings today. — M2 Racing Tauranga Riders
Race 9: Good Vibes —S McKay (a); Accolades — S Spratt.
Scratchings
Race 1: Bellamala.
Race 2: Ohope Prince.
Race 3: Irish Mist.
Weather, drizzling; track, heavy11; rail, true.
M6 Amberley at Riccarton
Scratchings
Race 1: Entree.
Race 6: Aspen lass.
Race 8: More In Store.
Weather, drizzling; track, heavy11; rail, out 8m.
- Jonny Turner
