Hayley Rose, unbeaten in three starts at Ashburton, will have 3kg weight relief with apprentice Courtney Barnes in the saddle for the Ashburton Cup today.
Hayley Rose ran second fresh up to King Montrose over 1000m at Riccarton five weeks ago. She was ridden by apprentice Dicky Lui when she won over 1400m at Ashburton in December. Her other two wins on the track have been over 1200m, the distance today.
Barnes has won two $25,000 sprints on Final Touch at Riccarton in the last month.
Hayley Rose is trained at Ashburton by Jan Hay, who also has Rewa in the field.
Rewa has won her two starts at Ashburton, both over 1200m with Kylie Williams the rider.
Williams has retained the mount.
Coup Darci Be, who has three wins and two seconds in five starts, is starting afresh.
The Michael Pitman-trained Coup Darci Be, won fresh up at Wingatui in February. He was spelled after a win at Riccarton in May. He has been entered for the Coupland's Mile at Riccarton, a race that Silent Achiever will bypass. She is headed to Melbourne for the $A200,000 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley tomorrow week.
Pitman also has El Chico and Our Genes in the Ashburton Cup. El Chico won the race two years ago under 54.5kg. He is top weight with 59.5kg today.
Keep The Conflict, who won the Ashburton Cup last year under 55kg, has 1kg more today.
D'Cash Man, a runaway last-start winner in a race for 3yr-olds at Riccarton, should cope with stronger opposition in the $50,000 Coupland Stakes today.
The front runner has drawn one over the same distance, 1400m
• Ashlee Mundy, who is riding in Queensland, plans a return to New Zealand for the Otago-Southland Christmas-New Year circuit beginning with Wingatui on Boxing Day.
