Riccarton trainer John Luxton hopes his mare Pamir can continue her excellent season’s form in today’s Dunedin Gold Cup. The Raise The Flag mare has shown her staying prowess with top three finishes in all of her starts beyond 1600m this season.
Pamir showed Luxton promise, but did not live up to expectations, last season. She can repay him for his faith and secure her future as a broodmare with victory in today’s listed 2400m feature.
"I thought she would be much better last season, but she actually had a problem with sucking wind," he said.
"We turned her out and she has been a big improver since she has been back in."
Being by staying sire Raise The Flag suggests Pamir will relish her step up from the 2180m of her last start win in the Hokitika Cup to today’s 2400m.
"The distance won’t worry her; she will even go further in time."
Pamir raced on the pace at Hokitika, and Luxton expects her to do the same today.
"I would like to see her handy — she puts herself up in to that position and then just switches up when she gets there.
"The last 400m she is always strong."
Pamir not only steps up in distance in today’s Dunedin Gold Cup, but also rises to open handicap company for the first time. Luxton said his mare was well placed to make the step up with her 53kg weight. Pamir could only manage fifth in a rating 65 event during her last trip to Wingatui. Luxton said there were excuses for that mediocre performance.
"The last time she raced at Wingatui, I wouldn’t take too much notice of that.
"She was in a 1600m race and though she has won over that distance before, I had just moved properties and she just hadn’t settled.
"She is a funny mare — all of my other horses didn’t give a damn.
"But, now she has settled in and put weight on and she is as heavy as she has ever been."
Pamir’s regular rider, Rohan Mudhoo, was suspended at last month’s Gore meeting.
That has seen Tina Comignaghi pick up the rideon the mare. Pamir has been rated the fourth favourite in early betting markets behind favourites Shezatoucha and Sulcifera. She and the favoured pair face stiff competition from rising Wingatui star, Aboli. The Terry Kennedy-trained gelding has been highly impressive in three runs over middle distances this campaign.
Kennedy said the horse’s last start third placing in the Gore Cup showed the horse was likely to settle well and see out the 2400m of the Dunedin Gold Cup strongly.
"He just dropped the bit and put his head down and relaxed beautifully and that tells you that the 2400m shouldn’t worry him, I don’t think."
