Riccarton Park Results (Race 5)

Saturday, 25th October 2014

5
14:00
(local)

Ray Coupland Stakes (LR)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
NZD $50,000
1400m TURF GOOD
5
14:00
(local)
NZD $50,000
1400m GOOD

Ray Coupland Stakes (LR)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN

The rail was out 9m to the 1000m and 11m up the home straight so it made for awkward and biased racing so be a tad hesitant to expect similar results when it is back in the true position Riding Shotgun blew them away the closing 50m after being well back then shooting through up the middle inside the final 100m. He is best when able to get one run at them and this is likely the approach for his next expected outing in the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) here. His visiting stable from the North Island saw their juvenile filly be late scratched at the barrier a couple of events prior so trainer Leo Molloy must have been trying to contain his fuming. This would have pleased him immeasurably. The winning time of 1:24.63 was nothing special and in the following event the winning mare Miss Alice in a Benchmark 75 clocked 1:24.06 (three lengths quicker) and scored comfortably. The Open Class 1400m later in the card saw Miss Three Stars (another mare) clock 1:23.18 and that is just under nine lengths superior to Riding Shotgun for more perspective. La Veuve ran on well after losing her good spot behind the pace early. The leader (Second Time Lucky) finished fourth and the trailer Belle Miraaj finished third. Notably the sire Iffraaj provided the trifecta and another of his runners in Caramac ran a cracking fifth after being tardy to settle back in the rear group then came the widest the run home. Longchamp, Flaming and Darci’s Dream disappointed with the first two names not well ridden tactically. Elusive Catch was poor and looks like she needs wet ground to deliver. The winner can go on with it and good to see Second Time Lucky run a better race to finish fourth showing that in front is where she performs best. Caramac a name to back next time out and it would pay to forgive certainly Longchamp and Flaming. A riding change looks assured for Longchamp next time he runs.