As soon as the rains arrived at Methven and the grass surface slid into a heavy rating, the $ 40,000 Group Three Methven Cup would be a survival race of the strongest.
Understandably, all eight runners were driven conservatively.
Winning driver Gavin Smith knew that he was going in the current position that his Charge Rakero Rocket (Rock N Roll Heaven) Was somewhat interrupted.
Smith gave the five -year -old the perfect journey sitting behind Pacemaker, who was pleasure and when the passing job presented, he came in the inside to defeat Wag star at a neck with Who’s pleasure three -quarters of length back in third place.
Rakero Rocket Replay
The winning time of 4-25.5 was the slowest since 2000 when the race distance became 3000 meters.
“It was hard to go outside. When they tried to accelerate, they fought to pick up their legs. He was on his feet on the 100, but he fought bravely. He was a very big attempt for him to hang. That was brave,” said Smith Brittany Graham.
It has not been easy weeks for trainer Tom Bamford, struggling to prepare Rakero Rocket for today’s race.
“He had a really quiet first test and in the second test they ran and went 3-15, so he probably had too hard a process. He might have had a small bug and that test really hit him. He is one of those horses that can quickly light up.
Despite the jumping in the IRT New -Zeeland Cup ranking, the gelding goes to the Canterbury Classic and then Ashburton or Kaikoura.
Rakero Rocket is a relative baby when it comes to the open -class pacing ranges, with only twenty -six starts for his nine wins.
“Last year he just tapped the better and we hoped that the harder racing at the end of last season would keep him this season and he could make his way in that upper bracket,” said Smith.
Owned by Ronnie Dawe, Bamford and Smith have concentrated on returning Rakero Rocket, especially around standing starts.
“We worked on all his ways last year, such as starting well and letting him get it to settle. We drifted him quietly because he had not had much for a horse that had quickly passed his numbers. And he is gone.
For complete race results, Click here.
Through Bruce StewartFor Harnesslink
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