FUTURE STARS COME OUT TO PLAY AT RUAKAKA ON WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER
Fantastic to see the support there has been in running at Ruakaka on Wednesday instead of Te Aroha. Huge nominations with trainers looking for better track surfaces. Very unfortunate that the rains keep coming . The vision of past and present Whangarei Racing Club Committees and NZTR and NZ Racing Board members is coming to fruition. I remember Alistair Sutherland saying you need to expand your track surface so that one day you can attract more trainers to base at Ruakaka. This will give Ruakaka a sustainable population of horses to make up race fields. Punters will bet on Ruakaka races because the racing surface is more consistent than other tracks. He was correct. We are now in the situation to be able to take on more trainers. We have plenty of land, sand based , no mud, a warmer climate and a beach. We can keep horses in sand yards with shelters , don't have to box them and do this very cheaply. Some very astute vets have said horses need to be in area's of free flowing air. The fact we are on the beach means our air is off the sea which has to be good for horses. Ruakaka races have been a genuine earner for the NZ racing industry. Simple maths will show you the return on dollars bet compared to stakes paid is one of the highest in the country. A few stake adjustments in the right races will attract even better fields. It is becoming obvious another Ruakaka type track is needed down the country further to create more consistent surfaces to bet on. Big stakes paid on wet tracks that don't attract punters especially from Australia isn't great business.
Race 2 the Fell Engineering Maiden 2100m sees El Fortuna start from barrier 2 ridden by Trudy Thornton. The 3 year old Castledale colt is owned by Donna Logan and Karen Sprague. Has had 1 start for 4th at Ruakaka on 28th September. Has been working well and could get some of this off natural improvement.
Race 4 the Adams Trimmer Insurance Maiden 3 year old 1400m sees No Wahalla start from barrier 2 ridden by Sam Weatherley . The 3 year old Ekraar gelding is owned by Hj and PJ Crofskey , N Lawn, NB Mills, S Moon, DJ Newland and C Roberts. 2 starts for 0-0-1. Ran 3rd at Ruakaka on 28th September after going to the lead and just came to the end of his run. Will have improved so a first 3 chance.
Tavidream also runs . Is also in race 6 and a decision which race to run in hasn't been made yet although he has drawn a bit better in the latter. Drawn 12 and ridden by Kelly McCulloch. Owned by Chris and Jim Gibbs, Ashley Goodwin, Darcy Wintle, Darrell and Annette Conder, Donna Logan, Brian Trimmer, Stu Graham, Murray Darroch, Roy Dickey, and Tava Steiny Syndicate. Has won 2 trials and is on debut. You will hear the crowd of local owners if he wins.
Race 6 the Whangarei Love It Here Maiden 1400m sees Illyria start from barrier 14 . The 3 year old Dalghar filly is owned by Botsky Pty Ltd. Ran second at the Avondale trials on 20th September. Is on debut and should be in the finish.
Race 7 the Whangarei ITM 1400m Maiden sees Floating Heart srart from barrier 1 ridden by Vinnie Colgan. The 4 year old Encosta De Lago is owned by Sir Peter Vela. Ran 4th in her last start at Ruakaka on 28th September after storming home from the back. Can win this.
Race 9 the Northpine 1200m Maiden sees Romancer start from barrier 4 ridden by Vinnie Colgan. The 3 year old Redwood is owned by Mrs A Gibbs, JA Gibbs, D Logan, D and K Milliken, OTI Management Pty Ltd, Stirling Bloodstock Ltd and Mrs LA Warwick. Ran 2nd at Ruakaka on debut on 28th September after racing ungenerously. Natural improvement will make this horse very hard to beat.
Sky Full Of Stars also runs. Has drawn barrier 13 . The 5 year old Henny Hughes gelding is owned by G Lui. 4th ballot and will hopefully make the field . Needs to show something.
Race 10 the A'Fare Caterers Rating 75 Benchmark 1400m sees Astara start from barrier 16 ridden by Sam Collett. The 3 year old Dalghar filly is owned by Neven Botica. She has had 5 starts for 2-1-0 and ran 7th in her last start at Ruakaka on 10th September in the Breeders Stakes after over racing and being caught 3 wide without cover. This is a class filly and although drawing wide can win.