La Crique successful Arrowfield Stakes final season. Picture / Peter Rubery
Two of the superstars of New Zealand racing are doubtful for Saturday’s $400,000 Arrowfield Stud Stakes after persistent rain has the Hastings monitor rated heavy for the second group 1 of the season.
Course officers had been left annoyed on Wednesday after the monitor copped way more rain than anticipated to see it rated a Heavy 10 with extra showers forecast earlier than Saturday.
“We had been actually unfortunate on Tuesday evening as a result of I stay 12kms from the monitor and my place received 1ml of rain however the monitor received 13mils,” stated monitor supervisor Richard Fenwick.
“We had two horses gallop on the monitor this morning and it isn’t a nasty heavy so I’m nonetheless hopeful it will probably get again to a Delicate 7 by Saturday however that clearly relies on how far more rain we get.
“It doesn’t really feel like we’re going to get much more and if the wind comes up we’ve an opportunity of a smooth monitor.”
A heavy monitor is strictly what the trainers of excellent mares Legarto and La Crique don’t need and so they could must make race morning selections on whether or not they begin.
“I don’t just like the look of the showers which can be forecast or the very fact it may rain on race day,” says Legarto’s co-trainer Ken Kelso.
“So we’ll wait till Saturday morning if we’ve to to see what occurs. She doesn’t have to depart our stables till after scratching time (7.30am) so we would make our closing resolution then.”
Trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander are adopting the identical method with La Crique, the defending Arrowfield Stakes champion.
“We wish to race her this week however we don’t wish to begin on a heavy monitor,” explains Simon Alexander.
“Ideally if we had an thought of the probably floor we want to take her down on Friday afternoon but when we’ve to attend till Saturday morning to make our closing resolution we’ll.”
One horse sure to be at Hastings no matter monitor situations is newly-crowned Horse of the Yr, Sharp N Good.
“He’s undoubtedly going and he has received a bunch 2 race and completed second in a bunch 1 on a heavy monitor,” says coach Graeme Rogerson.
“And he’s now 98 per cent more likely to again up within the Livamol there (Hastings) two weeks later.”
The uncertainty across the Hastings monitor situations and who will really begin within the 1600m characteristic has the potential to trigger chaos with the TAB marketplace for the Arrowfield.
Legarto, who had been $1.80 in most markets for the final week was out to $2.40 within the post-draw market whereas Mustang Valley, who was $6 final week opened $3.20 closing subject however was shortly backed into $2.80.
If Legarto and La Crique don’t begin due to a heavy monitor Mustang Valley, who has excellent heavy monitor type, may begin odds on.
Tokyo Tycoon has opened the $1.55 favorite for Saturday’s $175,000 Hawkes Bay Guineas and he has heavy monitor successful type.
Kiwi dash sensation Imperatriz will bounce from barrier 5 within the A$750,000 Moir Stakes at The Valley on Friday evening.
The race begins at 12.15am Saturday morning (NZ time) with Melbourne three hours behind New Zealand till daylight financial savings time begins there on Sunday.
