The prospect of a heavy track for the Te Rapa meeting today could play into the hands of central districts visitor Whangaehu.
The versatile galloper has competed right out to the 3200m of an Auckland Cup, but last term, he found career-best form over the middle-distance trips, winning the Trentham Stakes (2100m) and placing in the group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
Whangaehu will resume in the group 1 weight-for-age Howden Mile (1600m), having had two public trials in preparation for trainers Bill Thurlow and Sam O’Malley.
"We’re really happy with him. His trials were good and his second one was the best of those," Thurlow said.
"He’s on his way up nicely.
"We would’ve ideally liked to have given him a run somewhere but nothing really fitted his programme, so we’re pretty happy going into the race off what we’ve done with him.
"He’s fit, he’s done plenty of work, so I don’t think it’ll be too big of an issue and he’s gone really well fresh before."
The Te Rapa track was rated a heavy 9 yesterday, but a further downgrade would not worry Thurlow.
"He operates on either and he’s won on wet ground, so it’s not as a big a concern for him as it may be for some of the others.
"The only issue will be whether it’s too heavy and his condition gives out, but apart from that, I’m not too concerned."
Earlier in the day, Thurlow will be keeping a close eye on the southern meeting at Riccarton, where Landman and Crunchie Boy are representing the stable.
The trip was tailored around Landman who holds a nomination for the New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in early November.
The son of Hello Youmzain won convincingly on debut last month at Woodville but struck unsuitable track conditions when finishing back in the Wanganui Guineas.
"We’re going down there with a little bit of hope," Thurlow said.
"The idea was to give him a trip away, and if it works well, he could go down for the [New Zealand] Cup meeting. If not, then we might reassess what we do.
"His first start was great then he was a little bit average in the Wanganui Guineas, which we put down to the track conditions there. He was climbing a bit in the ground, which can happen for horses there: they either handle it or they can’t.
"He’s done well since then, so we are expecting a bit run out of him, honestly."
Crunchie Boy came close to a lucrative rating 65 victory during cup week last year, and his chances in a rating 65 race over 1400m are enhanced by Liam Kauri’s 3kg claim.
"He’s going down as a travelling mate for Landman, but he should acquit himself well. He’s ready to go." — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
By Jess de Lautour
