Racing: Richardson holds key at Trentham

James McDonald
James McDonald
Trainer Graham Richardson has the horses to provide the trifecta in the $200,000 Wellington Cup at Trentham tomorrow.

Richardson will be attempting to go one better than the City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on January when he saddled Singled Minded and Top Spot to finish first and third.

The pair are in the Wellington Cup, along with stablemate, Green Supreme, the $3 favourite.

Green Supreme recorded his third successive win when he triumphed in the Dunstan Stayers Championship (2200m) at Ellerslie on January 1 at his last start. His last two wins have been achieved on rain-affected tracks which he dislikes.

"I really don't know how he managed to win at Te Rapa," Richardson said. "I let him go around only because I needed a couple of points to make sure he got into the Dunstan final." Green Supreme also seems more comfortable on left-handed tracks, like Trentham.

Richardson said he would not normally take three horses to a feature race without a start for four weeks, but the interval was working well.

"It was a hard slog at Ellerslie and Green Supreme definitely knew he'd been to the races."

Single Minded came through his race in grand order.

"He's as tough as old boots and he's just thriving," Richardson said.

Top Spot came from last on the home turn to finish third behind Single Minded.

Richardson said she is underrated.

Spiro, winner of the Wellington Cup (2400m) last year, heads the field with 58kg. He carried 53kg last year.

Six O'Clock News, the runner-up, returned to winning form in the Trentham Stakes (2100m) last Saturday.

He was not re-handicapped.

Leith Innes is the replacement rider for Nash Rawiller.

Michael Walker, who has won Wellington Cups on Smiling Like (2001) and Young Centaur (2008), has the mount on Blood Brotha, winner of the New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November when ridden by James McDonald, who retains the mount of Green Supreme.

Cassini failed to handle a wet track in the City Of Auckland Cup. She has won the Manawatu and Wanganui Cups.

Crocodile Canyon won the Marton Cup (2200m) by seven lengths at Awapuni at his last start. He would only need to reproduce that run to be hard to beat.

Allan Sharrock is walking a fine line with Shez Sinsational, who is in the Thorndon Handicap. The New Plymouth trainer has freshened Shez Sinsational from her brilliant Zabeel Classic (2000m) win to be sharp for 1600m.

The fine line is that she still has to do enough work to keep fit.

"She's looking a bit porky, but then she's got a six-hour float trip to the races to tighten her a bit," said Sharrock.

"I tried to get fresh legs into her for the 1600m, but she might have done just a little too well."

 - Mike Dillon

 

 

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