Racing: Lawrey knows Rat Tat ready to battle all the way

If Rat Tat makes it two on end by winning at Ellerslie today, mark it down as another victory for the battlers.

His trainer Tony Lawrey knows what the term means.

Lawrey has been one of racing's battlers for several decades. He hangs in there somehow making a living from just six horses in work.

Rat Tat himself, with a purchase price of just $3800, falls into the same category.

And today's first-season apprentice rider Harmony Moki, with a burning desire to succeed, has only four winning rides behind her.

Lawrey has been around a while, evidenced by the fact that he began his riding apprenticeship at Takanini with the late George Cameron.

He transferred the final part of his apprenticeship to Fred Phillips at Matangi then, fully qualified, he had what he says was the best fun of his life riding over fences.

"I won the Hawkes Bay Hurdles on Jamura and took two Hawkes Bay Steeplechases on George and Totara Park.

"The other great thrill was being beaten a nose by No Retreat on George in the Wellington Steeples."

Lawrey was still riding over fences when he took out a trainer's licence, but quickly realised that the twin focus was not easy.

"When you get hurt in race falls you still have to look after the horses if you're a trainer, so I had to give riding away," he said.

"But before doing that I won with the first horse I produced at the races, Crystal Gail at Wanganui, and I rode it myself."

There is little money in winter sprint racing and Lawrey has done well to so far win $150,252 with Rat Tat, who is essentially a wet tracker, despite one win each on good and dead surfaces.

He is happy to think that can be added to this afternoon.

"I took him to Tauherenikau to gallop on Tuesday morning and he worked terrible.

"The sheep had been on the course proper and the track was very dead and didn't seem to suit him.

"He worked with real zest this morning, so we're heading north."

Moki is lucky to have the ride.

Being in the right place at the right time pays off in horse racing.

Lawrey called the Alan Jones stable to engage apprentice Corey Parish for Rat Tat when he was due to run at Ellerslie two weeks ago.

"He was told Corey was with Mr Jones' team in Queensland and our foreman said we had this other apprentice in the stable, Harmony Moki, and could she ride him," Moki said. "I was lucky he said yes, also lucky that he seemed to be pleased with my winning ride and he told me that day I could ride him next start."

Moki seems dedicated to success.

"My older sister Toni rode over fences for Jamie Graham at Takanini, but she was never passionate about riding - I am." Toni Moki has retired from racing and is studying psychology at Massey University.

Moki's 4kg claim reduces Rat Tat's 58kg topweight to 54kg, only 1kg above the minimum weight.

Big apprentice allowances provide a huge advantage on winter tracks.

That was evident when first-time rider Catherine Tetzlaff made a winning debut, landing Destinate home to win for her boss Lance O'Sullivan at Te Rapa last week.

Apprentice allowances play a big part in Rat Tat's race.

Go Thenaki will go down 2kg through Ryan Allwood, Catherine Tetzlaff will take 4kg off the back of I Rock My World and Ryan Gartner will also claim the maximum allowance from My Lips Ar Sealed.

* Danz Star (No4, R8) looks a good prospect late in the programme at Ellerslie. He was left in front a touch too soon on the same track last start and yielded late to a superb effort from talented Ring Of Fire. Perhaps take a saver quinella with the visitor Woodbury Lane (No3).

Lazaros (No2, R2) is having his first start since October, but judged on the way he won a recent barrier trial he could be ready to produce a big first-up effort.

Given how testing the track will be, Sadie Belle (No2, R4) may need a run before showing form, but she is talented and well capable of being in this finish at good odds. As the winner of four races, she comes in very well in an R76 event.

Tantalic (No2, R5) didn't do much in the Cornwall Handicap. In fact he did nothing, but at this time of year horses, particularly older horses, can object to one particular type of footing and be at value odds next start. It might pay to remember his fighting second to American Gothic here two starts back.

Quartze (No1, R7), with Craig Grylls taking away 3kg, looks a very sound proposition. He is a very fit horse and will go close.

O'Reason (No4, R9) failed at Ellerslie when a hot favourite last start, but he may have been feeling the effects of a hard first-up race at Rotorua. This time he has had three weeks between races and that could make a difference.