BUSY WEDNESDAY AT TE RAPA

A busy day for Ballymore Stables at Te Rapa on Wednesday with four horses going to the races.

Perhaps predictably with the weather New Zealand has experienced in recent months the track is rated Heavy(10).

Salt Bay (pictured) is the first to go in race three, the Maiden 3YO over 1100m with Reese Jones in the saddle and drawn barrier one.

The daughter of Redwood is racing for the first time and co-trainer Pam Gerard is happy to be getting her to the races.

“We have been patient, and mindful of getting the three-year-olds out early but also wary of running in conditions that are not suitable,” Gerard said.

“She will be ridden how she jumps, hopefully with a bit of cover in behind the leaders and then look for her to finish off.

On The Rocks runs in race four, a Maiden over 1200m where he will start from barrier nine after scratchings with Michael Coleman to ride.

“From the wide barrier draw he will be allowed to find his feet early and then look for him to make ground in the straight,” Gerard said.

“The prospect of a heavy track is not ideal, but it is important to get a run in to him at this stage.

“His work has been as good as we could hope for given the wet tracks to gallop on and he is very bright and well around the stable at present.”

Fortaleza is in race six, a Maiden over 1400m and has also drawn out in nine after scratchings with Shaun McKay riding.

Gerard is hoping for an improvement in the track for the daughter of Darci Brahma.

“She looks very fit and well and her work on Saturday morning was extremely pleasing,” Gerard said.

“From the barrier we expect she can cross to race handily, settle and take up a good position, and she travelled kindly in her gallop with Shaun McKay aboard.”

Keep On Coming rounds out the day in race seven, a Benchmark75 over 1600m with Sam Weatherley doing the steering.

The daughter of Shamoline Warrior has raced well on the course previously and, despite the small field, Gerard is expecting a forward showing.

“The plan is to ride her cold and look for a good tow into the race,” Gerard said. “We want her to find her feet and see her hitting the line with a view to stepping up in distance, on better tracks, in the next couple of starts.

She races well on this course and we are happy with her condition going into it.”