Trainer Shaune Ritchie couldn't wait to get his toes in the sand at Waitarere Beach as he went about putting the final touches on his four stable runners set to compete at the Wellington Cup meeting at Trentham.
Ritchie is a firm believer in the benefits that beach work can provide for travelling horses in the days leading up to their assignments, having utilised the opportunities presented at Ruakaka, Woodend Beach in Christchurch and for several years, the pristine setting at Waitarere Beach, south of Foxton.
"All of our horses that are going to Trentham galloped at home on Tuesday morning and headed down to the beach on Wednesday," he said.
"We get a lot of good results when we give them some time in the water a few days before they race.
"They seem to love the change in environment, they relax and for the older horses it helps cool their joints.