Weekend racing with Iain Hyndman

Plucky mare Rosewood returns to claim another at Awapuni on Saturday. Photo/Race Images

Iain Hyndman's Awapuni Tips
1: Tutta La Classe, Manolo, Meryace
2: Kotahi, Platinum Volos, Back In A Flash
3: Carson River, Sea Star, Miss Lizzie
4: Talk Back, Leaf, Kini Marie
5: Wazuzu, Sylvester, Lovetokeephim
6: General Sherman, Beau Jeu, Grinner
7: Rosewood, Taurus, Manhattan Street
8: Dez, Tipical, Elle Eye Are
Best Bet: General Sherman (R6)

Progressive mare Rosewood returns to Awapuni on Saturday on her way to black type riches this campaign.

She will contest the $35,000 Norwood Farm Machinery Open Handicap over 1400m on her way to the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup on her home track at New Plymouth on July 21.

The talented galloper had struggled with 57kgs under weight-for-age conditions in the Listed Ag Challenge Stakes (1590m) at Wanganui two starts back, but dropped a telling 3kgs for her open 1500m handicap contest at Awapuni on June 16.

With leading rider Lisa Allpress aboard, the Marilyn Paewai trained runner bided her time towards the rear of the eight-horse field before making her bid shortly after straightening.

Local galloper Leeds and rider Rosie Myers had dashed to the front but couldn't repel the determined burst of Rosewood who strode clear over the concluding stages to win in dominant fashion by just over a length.

Allpress was at her cheeky best when interviewed shortly after the race.

"She's like me," she replied when asked if the mare had a fair bit of fight in her.

"She tries really hard and seems to get through that ground really well.

"She's fit and ready and it helps when they have the miles under their belt.
"It was a good effort."

Paewai admitted her charge had found it hard to carry the 57kgs at her previous start.

"Because she's little she can't carry too much weight, so she found it hard the other day," she said.

"I probably mucked that up a bit but she still went good.

"I thought today the track would suit her."

Paewai is eyeing a feature race on her home track at New Plymouth as her main winter target.

"I think we will have a crack at the Opunake Cup as she likes New Plymouth which is her home," she said.

"I had liked the idea of the Whyte Handicap (at Trentham) but you can't do both, so we will settle for the race at home." – NZ Racing Desk