3 minute read

Change brings success; Celebration ends with lengthy ban; Kumara meeting washed out; Snow Secret to peak in Cup; Peaceful Falls to benefit from blinkers;

Change brings success

Miranda Dravitzki enjoyed a visit to the winner’s stall at Wanganui in a new role.

The New Plymouth-based horsewoman celebrated her first success as a trainer when Rhiza broke her maiden on Thursday in the hands of Jonathan Riddell.

“It’s a lot more nerve-wracking being a trainer than riding,” Dravitzki said.

The 29-year-old rode 101 winners, including the Gr.3 Winter Cup at Riccarton aboard Karla Bruni, before she handed in her jockey’s licence.

Celebration ends with lengthy ban

A premature victory salute has cost the Singaporean jockey Rafi Firdhaus a five week suspension.

He had gone out to a long early lead aboard Locally Sauced in Wednesday’s Hokitika Cup and then pulled up at the winning post before realising there was still a lap to go. They subsequently finished fourth, more than 30 lengths from the winner.

Firdhaus, who had ridden the previous winner Electronic Motion, was suspended until and including February 18.

Kumara meeting washed out

The Kumara Racing Club meeting on Saturday has been abandoned.

The decision follows an inspection on Thursday morning by the Racing Integrity Unit and club representatives following heavy rain and a wet outlook.

The course has been inundated with over 150mm of rain, with significantly more forecast in coming days and surface water is impacting large areas of the track.

Snow Secret to peak in Cup

The Gr.3 Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup (3200m) on Saturday week has long been a target race for the Shaune Ritchie-trained Snow Secret.

The five-year-old mare finished runner up to Lizzie L'Amour in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup two starts back, before a midfield finish in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day.

“I felt her run in the Waikato Cup was excellent and she was taking ground off the winner,” Ritchie said.

“Her run in the City of Auckland Cup was the run of a horse looking for 3200m. When they quickened up, she kept plugging away to the line and I think the two-miles at Trentham will really suit her.

Snow Secret finished fourth in the Wellington Cup last year behind Mister Impatience and Ritchie said she had strengthened enormously over the past 12 months.

“She performed very well in the race last year as a soft four-year-old mare. She’s certainly a much more developed, much stronger horse this season,” he said.

Peaceful Falls to benefit from blinkers

Trainer Steven Cole believes the addition of blinkers will benefit Peaceful Falls in Saturday’s Wellington Provedoring 2YO Premier (1200m) at Trentham.

The Niagara gelding showed promise when finishing third to Excelleration at Counties on debut in November but his performance at Ellerslie on Boxing Day was less encouraging.

“His run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day was probably a bit better than it reads on paper,” said Cole. “He was just a bit green so the blinkers will be applied on Saturday.

“His work has been first class so we’re going down there with a bit of confidence in him so long as he can do everything right.

“He’s a nice horse, he’s not overly big but he always tries.”