There’s one word to describe Riviera Rebel’s (NZ) (Pure Champion) last assignment of the season – heavy.
The in-form gelding has been lumbered with top weight, 60kg, in Saturday’s Avon City Ford Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton, where his biggest rival will be the inclement weather.
While the son of Pure Champion is adept at racing in heavy conditions, recording three of his six wins on the surface, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton last start, co-trainer Graham Eade is wary of the inclement weather in Christchurch leading into the weekend, with the track already rated a Heavy10 on Wednesday morning.
“It is going to be deep, and they have piled the weight onto him, so it’s going to be another learning curve,” said Eade, who trains in partnership with his granddaughter Brooke Kincaid.
“He doesn’t mind a heavy track. He’s not very big, but he’s quite strong and he has got that will to win. Having topweight is the biggest concern though.
“It’s raining quite heavily here. It started before we went to the track at 6:30am (Wednesday morning) and it hasn’t stopped, and it’s supposed to carry on tonight and tomorrow.
“It is going to be a test because the weight he has got and the track. He is going to go out after this. If it was 2000m I would probably pull him out, but it’s a mile.”
While he holds concerns about the wet-weather, Eade has been pleased with the way Riviera Rebel has come through his victory in the Canterbury Gold Cup last Saturday, and he has received positive reports from his trackwork rider in the interim.
“He has come through his last start really well,” Eade said. “His rider, Denby-Rose Tait, reckons the race hasn’t hurt him and he feels as good as ever.”
Riviera Rebel will jump from barrier three, with Kylie Williams in the saddle.
Eade will also line-up consistent mare Intercept (NZ) (War Decree) in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Rating 65 (1200m).
The War Decree four-year-old has placed in three of her last four starts, including a runner-up effort over 1400m at Riccarton last Saturday, and Eade is hoping she can go one better this weekend.
“She went well,” Eade said. “She has been here (Riccarton) as well and the trip away from Riverton will do her the world of good. She is seeing a lot of horses around her, which you don’t see down there.”
