And his plan came together in style when Natuzzi boomed past his rivals to win the $50,000 listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday.
The return trip, involving four days of driving, two ferry trips, and an early start yesterday morning - keeping Richards' celebrations to a couple of drinks and a meal - had its genesis shortly after Natuzzi's super run for second in the White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui in early February.
''We sat down and had a bit of a yarn with the owners [Bill and Sandra Duell],'' Richards said.
''I said to them maybe this would be an good option for him going around for some good money and try to win a decent stake before the handicapper gets to him.''
Natuzzi's jockey, Chris Johnson, let the son of Coats Choice settle back in the field on the rails, before finding a gap with 250m to go and shooting through off the back of Kaptain Kirkup.
''It panned out the way we thought it would,'' Richards said.
''[Chris] rode him lovely. Chris said he got there a wee bit soon but he was going that good.''
Natuzzi, whose winning margin was 1 length, is likely to start a short favourite in the listed Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on April 6.
''We'll see what he's like when he gets home, and let the dust settle bit, but more than likely, April 6 [will be his next start].''
Natuzzi's travelling mate, The Bodyguard, finished seventh in the rating 65 2200m after getting well back and running on.
''For both of them, it's a big learning curve with their first trip across the water, but they travelled good and ate all right.
''It's a big thrill - we planned it and it came off.''
Southland abandoned: The Southland Racing Club meeting at Ascot Park yesterday was abandoned after one race due to a horse slipping on the surface.
Jockey Doni Prastiyou told stewards his mount, Rotar, who finished eighth, slipped during the running. Stewards, club officials and senior jockeys inspected the track, which had been irrigated and was rated a dead (4) surface for yesterday's meeting, and noted two areas at the 1200m and the 800m where horses had slipped.
After six weeks of sunny weather, drizzly rain settled in.
The meeting had already been put back by one race, due to fog disrupting the flights of several Christchurch-based jockeys.
Jockey Jonathan Riddell was fined $200 for being unable to make the weight (55kg) for Capital Diamond in the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham on Saturday.
The horse finished fifth for replacement rider Johnathon Parkes.
