Te Aroha Saturday

Ballymore heads to Te Aroha on Saturday with four nice horses - three of whom contest the same race.

Crown Of Thorns, Kaptain Kirkup and Gospel (pictured) are all due to take their place in the 1200m First Credit Union Handicap and all three look nicely placed to perform well.

Having his first run since last winter, Crown Of Thorns can pull out a run fresh and we have been pleased with his progress this time in.

"He has been going really well," reported Chad Ormsby who added that barrier 14 was not of great concern.

"There is only a short run to the first bend at Te Aroha," he said.

Apprentice Michael Dee takes the ride on the son of Thorn Park - "with the 3kg claim he can be right in it at the finish," Ormsby said.

Also drawn out - to jump from barrier 12 - Kaptain Kirkup will appreciate a drop in class having finished close up in Listed company at his most recent outing at Trentham.

"He will start one of the favourites," said Ormsby, "and he only has to bring the form from his last start with him to prove hard to beat."

To be ridden by Dylan Turner, Kaptain Kirkup has won five races and four of those have been over the 1200m of Saturday's contest.

Also boasting a very good 1200m record, the consistent Gospel is first up since the spring and the son of Pins has been known to fire fresh.

"He has been working strongly leading into this," Ormsby said, "and with a good gate (6) he looks a nice chance."

Gospel will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell who has already won two races on the five-year-old.