Ruakaka races sees star return

PETER McKay didn't get a true line on Antonio Lombardo in trackwork at Matamata last Tuesday - but he's still confident the horse is ready to kick off in good style in the listed Westbury Stud Northland Breeders Stakes at Ruakaka tomorrow.

McKay rode stablemate Undisclosed in a track gallop with Antonio Lombardo, who was ridden by his son, amateur rider Jacob McKay. The plan was to give the two horses a good hitout in preparation for the Ruakaka meeting, but it didn't work out.

"It misfired at the 600," said McKay. "I felt Undisclosed falter and pulled him up. Jacob eased up on Antonio Lombardo and I yelled at him to keep going. He went off again, but it wasn't the same as being able to work with another horse. He still worked well."

Undisclosed, a last-start winner who was to resume at Ruakaka, was found to have suffered a stifle injury. "Fortunately he'll be all right," said McKay. "I was going to run three horses at Ruakaka but I'm down to one. Alvesta is out, too, so it's all up to Antonio Lombardo."

Alvesta, who created a huge impression with a debut win as a 2-year-old last season, hasn't pleased McKay lately.

"I decided to geld him after his work [last Tuesday]," said McKay. "He's got growing pains and is not right. He'll be out for a month."

Antonio Lombardo was one of the top 2-year-olds last season and was put aside for a spell after finishing a nose second to champion juvenile Anabandana in the group one Oaks Stud Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes. Third in the race was Dowager Queen, who was a feature winner at Wanganui last weekend.

Earlier he won the group three Waikato Stud 2YO Classic and the listed Life Members Wellesley Stakes and was beaten a nose by outsider Fort Lincoln in the Karaka Million.

McKay has given Antonio Lombardo two recent trials, the first when unplaced at Te Teko and the latest when winning at Cambridge.

"At Te Teko he hit the starting gates and had a blood nose," said McKay. "He cruised up quite nicely and won well at Cambridge. It cleaned him up."

Antonio Lombardo will again be ridden by Sam Spratt tomorrow and it was at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago that he registered his first win.

"He goes good fresh-up and as long as he jumps and puts himself right there he should be hard to beat," said McKay. "Ruakaka can be a funny track if you get back."

Provided he acquits himself well, Antonio Lombardo will head to the group two Hawke's Bay Guineas on October 1. "His main target will be the Levin Classic," said McKay. "He'll bypass the 2000 Guineas. The trip down there [to Riccarton] could take too much out of a colt like him."

McKay rates the Stephen McKee-trained Society Lady as one of the toughest rivals tomorrow. Society Lady has won her last two starts, both at Ruakaka.

Duckworth Lewis, Little But Fierce, Faraway Eyes, Shanghai Bund and Sir Lovesalot are other winners in the field. Duckworth Lewis beat Dowager Queen at Te Rapa last February and was an unlucky fourth to Society Lady last start, while Little Bit Fierce created a good impression with a debut win at Ruakaka. Faraway Eyes is another course winner.

Shanghai Bund raced in Queensland for John Sargent after beating A Cool Change [another rival tomorrow] at Te Aroha. Sir Lovesalot raced greenly when scoring at Ruakaka and is sure to have improved.

Moirai, Perfect Katch and Writteninthestars are all course placegetters. Capstand has two thirds at Ellerslie and Ginja Ninja has been runner-up in three of four starts.