Racing: Trainer tips Riomoral to record 4th win

Tinseltown. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Forget Riomoral went to Otaki at all last month when he returns to his favourite course, Te Rapa, today.

With a $50,000 Quaddie bonus and $150,000 Pick6 to chase later in the card, the smart Caption Rio 4-year-old should at least double the bank in race two.

Riomoral turned on a last-start rodeo act from the jump in the Levin Stakes, with rider Cameron Lammas doing well to stay in the saddle.

Matamata trainer Karyn McQuade suspects there was a simple reason for the meltdown - a smaller than normal saddle girth strap was pinching the horse so badly he didn't want to know about keeping pace with Celeris and co.

With the gear problem rectified, McQuade is confident you'll see Riomoral record his fourth career win at Te Rapa from just five appearances.

Even the outside alley (8) doesn't rattle McQuade.

She also entered Riomoral for the $20,000 open sprint at Awapuni today but scratched him because he has always gone his best races from wide Te Rapa gates.

One of the most impressive of those was in winning the group three $70,000 Windsor Park Breeders Stakes in May.

Emerging talent Fazzle didn't feature in the same event, but you should see a different horse in the opening leg of Pick6, the $45,000 AG and Turf Sprint (1400m).

She was super impressive winning an R90 1200m event at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day in a slick time.

Next time out she got pummelled at a vital point in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, bumped in the straight and forced to come across heels to make her run.

Her effort for sixth was a feature of the race.

Throw in Show Up and Benedict to safeguard against any early hiccups.

You'll need to go a lot wider in leg two, the R70 2000m.

Limoncino has to be on any multiple after her last-start second to Peace Lilly.

This field looks a notch below that one and she looks a progressive type.

James McDonald's mount Tsarevich is another must-include.

If he repeats his course and distance effort for second to Hot In Black three starts back he'd go close.

The feature, the group two Waikato Cup, may be losing its lustre in terms of field strength, but that doesn't make leg three any easier to crack.

Stick with the shorter price obvious threats, Tinseltown, Six O'Clock News and Shi Kin Fly, but bolster your chances with John Sargent's support cast of lightweights So Royal and Dawn Ghost.

Long-range Auckland Cup hope Innocent Lady is close to an anchor in leg four, the R80 2400m - you may need it.

She's been super impressive in her last two wins and this field isn't any stronger.

Waikato Cup contender The Terminator finished behind her last time out.

Cambridge trainer Frank Ritchie is confident that Obsession can back up from her trip to Trentham last weekend and go close again in leg five, the group two Cal Isuzu Stakes.

She did it last term when charging late for sixth in the Easter Handicap, a week after her third in the group one New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha.

In-form Matthew Cameron also seems to have inadvertently found the key to her after riding against instructions to win the group two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe on November 20.

Up until that point her camp was convinced she raced best in or near the lead.

Outside of the favourite there are a host of chances you need on the multiple. They include November Rain, She Rules, Alagant Satin and for longer odds, Adaline.

Leg six may not be as cut and dried as Single Currency fans think.

The favourite could get softened up in front by course specialist Agamemnon, paving the way for something to slingshot the tearaways inside the final 50m.

For that reason, consider Worthing, who should get a lovely trail, proven course performer Capacia and for a blow-out, Marton raider Possum.

Capacia, a two-time winner at Te Rapa already over this trip, will appreciate the step up to 1600m for the first time in this campaign.

She was an unlucky fast-finishing fourth in this race last year.

• Do not read anything untoward into Mark Du Plessis deserting Trapiche in his first big New Zealand Derby rehearsal at Ellerslie tomorrow.

Co-trainer Richard Otto gave Du Plessis a hall pass to partner his favourite sprinter Green Birdie in a little race called the $2 million Hong Kong Sprint in Hong Kong later the same day.

That engagement was thrown into jeopardy yesterday, however, when Du Plessis and Gavin McKeon took a spill in race eight at Tauranga.

Both riders were taken to Tauranga hospital in "moderate" condition suffering from "lower lumbar injuries".

But if all goes to plan in the $45,000 The Mad Butcher Championship Stakes Prelude (2100m), Du Plessis will be reunited with Trapiche well before the $2.2 million Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie in March.

"Mark reckons all this horse needs is to get over more ground," said Otto, who trains in partnership with his brother Chris.

"He's been desperately unlucky the last few runs [over 1400m-1600m]. Every time he goes out it's the same. He gets back, has hard runs to get around them and still finds the line strongly."

Visiting apprentice Rosie Myers warms the seat on the Sandtrap gelding. Otto says no one else called for the ride. Although still a maiden after 10 attempts, Trapiche looks as good a chance as any of the winners in the first middle-distance Derby shakedown.

Stablemates Atapi (race three) and Six Star (race five) give the Ottos a royal chance of a hat-trick tomorrow.

Atapi finished almost four lengths adrift of speedster Celeris last time they met, at Otaki on November 26.

But Richard Otto is confident it will be a different story now the 9-year-old has that fresh-up run under his belt.

"I'm happy with him - he takes two runs to get to his peak and he's getting closer to it."

With only six rivals to chase, it's also likely the Railway Handicap contender won't get too far off the speed on the turn.

Comeback 5-year-old Six Star also has group one aspirations later this summer with the Thorndon Mile his main aim.

The lightly tried Ekraar gelding was arguably the most exciting New Zealand Derby hope around two seasons back before being sidelined with a tendon injury.

"He's still a run short but I think you'll still see the horse he looked like he was going to be at Ellerslie," said Otto.