Seven months ago Bluebird The Word shocked Waikato race goers when he won Te Rapa's first big open middle distance race of the year at nearly 25-1.
Today he'll attempt to complete the Te Rapa double for 2000 when he'll contest the Waikato Times Gold Cup (2400m), and this time he'll have a bit more respect from pundits than he did in the Whakanui Stud International (2000m).
For starters, he comes into the race with good form. He was only just beaten by King Keitel in the Counties Cup, and got caught wide at the wrong time when he finished fifth in the Avondale Cup, less than a length from the winner She's A Meanie.
And secondly he will be ridden by Michael Walker, the darling of New Zealand punters.
Walker has ridden the son of Bluebird once before, though it was not a memorable one - when the horse finished a well-beaten eighth in the Prized Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
Bluebird The Word's best efforts in the past two seasons have been at around 2000m, such as the Whakanui International and the Counties Cup.
The biggest problems for Bluebird The Word will be the weight - he has 57.5kg - and his draw of 17.
- NZPA
Racing: Respect will be the catch Word
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.