The Drama Critic gelding lines up in a $10,000 restricted open hurdle at Oamaru today, but his Washdyke trainer, Michael Daly, explains there was an extra hurdle for the 8yr-old to overcome at Timaru on July 12.
''If he had run down the track the last start, he'd have been deemed a late scratching because his gate didn't open,'' Daly said.
''He came back with skin off his head and I thought `Oh well, he can be a bit silly in the gates' but he had to bang the gates open, he was a couple of lengths last, and it was even better than it looked.''
The winner of two of his three hurdling starts has tightened up since the win on his home track, Daly said.
''He was pretty fit, really. We've just kept him up to the mark. But he's probably trimmed up a wee bit, and he's probably better for the Timaru run.''
Aronsay has won 10 races on the flat, including four on a dead surface, and the dead5 reading at Oamaru yesterday should suit the gelding just fine.
''It won't worry him - it will worry some of the others but Dummy Myers' horse [Hemingway] doesn't mind dead tracks either.''
The Myers team is in red-hot form after five wins at Blenheim on Friday, but Daly feels Aronsay has plenty in his favour.
''He's just come into great form at the right time. It's not a big field, so there won't be a lot of pace on - but either way he can sprint home.''
As for what is next for Aronsay, Daly is still making his mind up.
''That's a good question. I was aiming for the [Grand] National [Hurdle], but they tell me the track is an absolute bog up there - 4200m on a bog track is pretty tough going.
''Safely through, I'd have a look at the Sydenham Hurdles. If I go to the Sydenham [and then the Grand National Hurdle], that's three races in nine days, which is pretty tough going, so I thought the Sydenham might be a better option because it's only two miles.''
Daly welcomes the services of leading jockey Opie Bosson to ride Blushing from gate 14 in a 1600m maiden today.
''He rides OK, that kid,'' Daly laughed.
''It's a terrible draw again, unfortunately, but hopefully she doesn't get too far back.
''She probably still made up five or six lengths in the straight [in her last start] and it wasn't a bad maiden field last time.''
Corazana would prefer slightly more give in the ground, but Daly liked what he saw in her fresh-up run at Ashburton.
''She got shut out at the start but I went there thinking she'd need a run, and she finished off the race quite tidily. She has trained on well.''
