Racing: Patience the better bet

Mark Du Plessis will be doing his best for the Richardson stable on Sunday. Photo / Northern Advocate.

Early this week, Matamata trainer Graham Richardson had a long, hard look at Sunday's Hallmark Stud Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie.

Richardson nominated two mares, Show Up and the one he considers particularly high class, Italian Princess.

Italian Princess is only just on the cusp of making the field for the next Blandford Lodge Railway on New Year's Day.

The first two home in Sunday's Newmarket gain automatic Railway entry and Richardson was very tempted to run Italian Princess.

Then the common-sense sector of his brain snapped into gear.

"I thought, no, to hell with it, if I am forced to run her in the Newmarket to make sure she gets in the Railway, I'd rather not be in the Railway.

"It would flatten her for the Railway and possibly for the rest of the season - the horse has to come first.

"You wouldn't see the best of her in the Railway if she ran in the Newmarket, so what's the point."

Which leaves Show Up and Mark Du Plessis doing their best for the Richardson stable on Sunday.

An awkward No 11 barrier stands in the way a little, but if Show Up, who has had little luck lately, gets over and covers a minimum of extra ground she can be right in the finish.

"She's wearing blinkers for the first time, but the draw is an issue," said Richardson.

Just outside Show Up at the start in an equally difficult spot is Amaryllis, who has also been a little luckless lately.

She got held up in the home straight before getting clear and storming home to be narrowly beaten by Ego in the Concorde run on this track last start.

"Her work since since then has been excellent," said co-trainer Steven Ramsay. "I took her into Matamata to gallop her this week and I was very pleased with the way she went."

James McDonald does all the riding for her owners Peter and Philip Vela, but is not riding under 54kg on Sunday and the mount once again has gone to Cameron Lammas.

Vincent Mangano is difficult to ride, particularly at Ellerslie and his Concorde fourth was smart. With more luck he can be in this finish.