Racing: Doomben results please trainer

Volpe Veloce. Photo / Trish Dunell

Despite not managing to pick up a placing at Doomben on Saturday Matamata trainer Graham Richardson was delighted with the respective efforts of stablemates Wildflower and Volpe Veloce, who made their first appearance at the Queensland Winter carnival.

(The) Wildflower made up good ground to finish midfield in the Gr.3 Premier's Cup (2200m) while a slight blunder at the start cost Volpe Veloce a higher placing in the Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) later in the day.

Richardson, who prepares the pair with co-trainer Gavin Parker, was looking forward to the coming weeks with the pair as he prepared to board a plane back to New Zealand yesterday morning.

"I thought on the whole they both went very well and I can't wait to see them line up again," he said.

"Wildflower didn't have much luck as she got well back and was really only rounding in to her race in the last little bit.

"I thought she was very strong to the line and it took Jake (Bayliss) another 1000m to pull her up. She really needed that run and will strip a much fitter horse next time.

"We haven't really decided on a target for her as there are any number of options that include both the Brisbane or Ipswich Cups."

Richardson was left rueing Volpe Veloce's powers of anticipation which cost her dearly at the start of her Group One assignment on Saturday.

"Jake said she just got her timing wrong as she charged the gate and clipped it as it opened," he said.

"That cost her half a length and she had to settle further back than was ideal. She got to the line nicely though and she will also take improvement out of the race. She goes best with her races spaced so the Tatts Tiara next month is where we will aim with her now."

The Gr.1 Tattersall's Club Tiara (1350m) at Doomben is the feature event on the last day of the Brisbane Winter Carnival on June 23.

• The powerful Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman training partnership produced another filly to watch over the next few weeks when stable debutant Rippin scored a courageous win at Hawera yesterday.

The Rip Van Winkle three-year-old broke her maiden status at the first time of asking for the Cambridge based operation after doing her early racing from Grant Lowry and Guy Cullen's Hastings stable.

Sent for home by rider Matt Cameron on the point of the turn she responded gamely when challenged by eventual runner-up Sky Hi Rahtwo to forge clear in the closing stages for a comfortable victory.

The stable made it three wins on the day when former Queensland Derby runner-up Rodrico led all the way to win over 1600m at his first start since returning from a stint in Hong Kong, followed by Major Domo also breaking his maiden status over 1600m one race later.

"He's pretty smart horse that Rodrico," said Baker.

- NZ Racing Desk