Racing: It's Essential looks good for clash at Wingatui

Jockey Shane Anderton. Photo / Fred Freeman

It's Essential confirmed her fitness for the Otago meeting at Wingatui tomorrow with a bold workout there yesterday.

The mare is among several top prospects for the stable of Brian and Shane Anderton tomorrow.

Ridden by race rider Courtney Barnes, It's Essential was showing clear of stablemate and race rival Tommy Tucker (Shankar Muniandy) at the end of 1000m on the sodden inside grass.

"She seemed to handle the track a lot better than Tommy Tucker," Shane Anderton said.

The course proper at Wingatui was rated slow and the weather fine yesterday. Showers are forecast for tomorrow. Tommy Tucker was a last-start winner on a heavy track at Ascot Park.

He clashes with It's Essential over 1600m in race 8 tomorrow.

It's Essential finished half a length second to Keep Dreamin the same day at Invercargill.

She had finished fourth over that distance at Riccarton at her previous start. She was desperately unlucky when second, beaten half a head by Prenuptial at Wingatui on April 22. Her saddle slipped near the 500m and rider Barnes completed the race perched on the neck of the mare.

The Anderton stable has Farewell Flight and Jaylah bright chances in race 4. Farewell Flight, a last-start winner at Gore, won a 1600m maiden at Wingatui in March.

Jaylah finished second to Flying Petal over 2000m at Gore following a win over that distance at Riccarton.

Stable jockey Jay Misbah, who rode both horses in their wins, has the mount on Farewell Flight tomorrow. Stable apprentice Toni Direen, who can claim 2kg, has the mount on Jaylah.