An extra ounce of energy courtesy of some weight relief could help Doni Prastiyou's three rides at Omakau tomorrow.
Prastiyou has just three rides on the eight-race card, but is hoping his 2kg claim will help Party Ice (race 4), Magic Epic (race 6) and Yazoom (race 8)Magic Epic will certainly appreciate the weight relief after the 79-rated Pins gelding was lumped with the top weight of 61kg in the rating 75 1400m.
The 7yr-old was a tidy third in the 1335m open handicap at Gore on December 21 despite racing unkindly at times for jockey Daniel Bothamley.
''Last start it was a good effort with Daniel on the horse,'' Prastiyou said.
''It ran home pretty strong so this time with 2kg off its back, it should go good. The track will suit him actually and the draw [barrier 3] is good.''
Prastiyou has taken some ideas from Magic Epic's last start as he considers his plans for today.
''Last start, Daniel did go forward and it looks like it doesn't worry him where he's travelling, so I might sit handy and wait for the gap to open and get a clear run.''
Prastiyou also partners the Savabeel mare Party Ice for the first time when the 5yr-old lines up in the rating 65 1400m.
Party Ice has drawn terribly in barrier 16 - which will become 12 with scratchings - in a draw he describes as ''a bit wide''.
''We'll see where the horse lands [after the gates open],'' he said.
Prastiyou is more familiar with Yazoom who he has ridden more than a dozen times in the horse's 37-start career.
The 6yr-old is now with Shaun McGarry after stints with several Wingatui trainers, and Prastiyou hopes to make good use of barrier 3.
''I used to ride this horse and it went all right over the distance and should go all right. With the weight off, it should go a good race.''
Esprit D'Or will carry top weight in the Clare Memorial Gold Cup, but there will be no doubt about his ability to see out the 2700m of tomorrow's $12,000 staying test.
The Tommy Beckett-trained gelding finished second in the New Zealand Cup on November 15 and has since added a fifth at Ascot Park and a third at Wingatui on Boxing Day to its formline.
Apprentice jockey Courtney Barnes can claim 1kg, bringing Esprit D'Or's carried weight down to 59.5kg from 60.5kg.
