Southern representative Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) will be out to extend his golden run at Riccarton Park this Saturday when he contests the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 128th Winter Cup (1600m).
The rising five-year-old son of Pure Champion has had five starts at the Christchurch track for three wins, including the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) in April, and Riverton trainers Graham Eade and Brooke Kincaid are hoping he can extend that to four on Saturday.
“He seems to love Riccarton, I am not sure why,” Eade said. “If a horse likes it, you’re alright, but if they don’t, you might as well stay at home.
“Comanche Gold (Group Three performer) loved Riccarton too, I think he won six there. It is just the type of horse.”
Riviera Rebel will be second-up after beating just one runner home over 1200m at Oamaru 10 days ago, but Eade said conditions didn’t suit.
“He never had much going for him at Oamaru,” he said. “I didn’t think he would go that well because he had the wrong draw and wrong distance, but I just had to give him a run.”
Eade had Group One aspirations in the north for Riviera Rebel this spring, with hopes of tackling the second two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, however, with their move north to Te Rapa and Ellerslie, he has decided to keep closer to home.
“We were looking at nominating him for those Group Ones, but they have been shifted now, and they have gone up to Ellerslie, which is the wrong way around,” he said.
“The nominations had to go in on Tuesday. He is still young enough and that is why I pulled pin. I would like to give him another year. If he does keep up his recent form, I would like to give him another year and then have a go at them.”
Eade will also head to Riccarton this week with Ataahua Pipedream and Intercept, who will line-up over a mile and 1200m respectively.
“Ataahua Pipedream is a funny horse,” Eade said. “If it doesn’t suit him, he just won’t try. On the day it suits him, he is quite quick.
“Intercept’s work has been very good, we are very happy. She has grown up and muscled up, and she is doing what we ask. We are very happy with her.”
Depending on Saturday’s outcome, Eade said the trio could remain in Christchurch for the entirety of the Grand National Festival of Racing.
“There is an 1800m which we are contemplating with Riviera Rebel, but a lot depends on Saturday, so we might stay on for another week,” he said.