Riccarton trainer Terri Rae is set to keep up her exceptional strike rate with the small, but select, team she has entered at Wingatui today.
Rae will start four runners who are in form and look strong winning chances at today’s Boxing Day meeting.
Smart debut winner Tears Of An Angel is the first of Rae’s runners to step out in race 2.
The 3yr-old will step up to race a smart bunch of 2 and 3yr-olds after impressing in maiden grade at Motukarara
"She won her first start really well, without too much effort," Rae said.
“We thought she would go close, because she had been working well.”
"She is only a small filly, bit she has got a good draw, which always helps."
Rae’s main concern with his filly is what kind of track she will step on when she jumps from barrier 1.
The Wingatui course has been rated at slow7 leading into today’s meeting.
"The track is a bit of an unknown, but she ran third at the trials in the North Island," Rae said.
Rider Kylie Williams reunites with Tears Of An Angel today, after riding her to her debut win.
Neither the track, nor luck in running, should be a factor when Morweka steps out in today’s feature, the listed Hazlett Stakes.
"She will be going to the front — she is quite happy doing that," Rae said.
"There is no point going back and trying to ride a race on her. She is a jump-and-run type of horse."
Courtney Barnes will asked Morweka to get quickly into stride from barrier 9 in today’s feature.
Should the Wingatui track stay in a soft state, or worsen, it would boost Morweka’s stocks while disadvantaging some of her rivals.
"She doesn’t mind what sort of a track she gets. On top of the ground horses like Sensei might be too good — with the way he won during cup week."
Kandari steps out for race in rating 72 company over 2200m with Williams aboard. The 4yr-old produced an excellent effort in his last start at Wingatui, earlier this month.
"He came from back and wide and most horses in the money on the day were handy or not covering a lot of ground."
Rae combines with rider Chris Johnson when Magnify steps out in rating 72 company over 1400m.
Johnson will need to weave his magic to find a cosy run for the last-start winner when he jumps from barrier 15.
The leading rider’s record on Rae’s horses suggests he is a big chance of doing exactly that. The pair have combined for 16 wins and 15 placings from just 45 starts in the past.
Rae has done her part, in having Magnify in peak form following his good win at Riccarton.
