Canterbury mare Pamir will attempt to make up for her lost New Zealand Cup opportunity in tomorrow’s Cromwell Cup.
The 6yr-old was scratched from the cup by stewards after trainer John Luxton was observed administering a substance in the horse’s mouth in the saddling area at Riccarton Park.
Luxton said he used a container to give the horse water after Pamir had got warm after being transported to the track.
The matter is the subject of an investigation which Luxton hopes will clear him of any wrongdoing and could prompt action to make the rules for giving horses water at the races clearer.
Luxton said he had received support from many trainers since the Riccarton incident.
He felt Pamir was ready to go a big race.
She could go some way to resurrecting a cups campaign if she can justify the payment of a late nomination fee for the Wellington Cup by winning the Cromwell Cup.
Pamir looks to have every opportunity to run well when she jumps from barrier 3 for jockey Kylie Williams with the competitive weight of 54kg. The 5yr-old will be out to go one better than her second in the Banks Peninsula Cup at Motukarara, in her last start before her derailed New Zealand Cup tilt.
Rival Sitarist faces similar conditions in the 2030m feature. The John and Karen Parsons-trained mare has drawn barrier 2 and will also carry 54kg with rider Tina Comignaghi.
Sitarist ran third behind Kaharau in premier company at the New Zealand Cup Carnival.
Sitarist and Pamir have a 4.5kg weight advantage over topweight Gallant Boy. The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained gelding steps up to a middle distance for the first time this campaign after winning over 1400m at Wingatui and then battling over 1600m in rich company in the Coupland’s Mile at Riccarton.
Apprentice Corey Campbell’s 2kg claim brings the 9yr-old’s weight down to 58.5kg.
