Ruakaka visitor Sulabella (NZ) (Proisir) will be out to keep her perfect record intact at Arawa Park on Saturday, as the mare takes on the open-class gallopers in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1560.
A winner of six races, Sulabella hit a purple patch of form when saluting at the Rotorua course last year at the beginning of July, and in the same race earlier this month she took the top spot once again.
Michelle Bradley, who trains the daughter of Proisir, is looking forward to heading back to the course.
“She’s come through her last run really well, this is a big step up in grade, but she’s trained on well and loves Rotorua,” Bradley said. “She’s two from two on the track, so we’ll go back and have a go.
“There is a lot of rain around and she’ll have a very light weight (54kg), so it would be nice if she could be thereabouts again.”
Drawing the ace barrier, Sulabella will continue her association with jockey Bridget Grylls, who was on board in her most recent success.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing in the torrid conditions that day, with Grylls’ saddle ending up on the mare’s wither, but Bradley explained that was a common occurrence for the six-year-old, who tends to pull down both in trackwork and on raceday.
“She can pull a bit in her races, and the way she does pull, it moves the saddle forward,” she said. “I don’t think that will happen again, she should be a little bit more relaxed this time.
“She’s like that in her work at home, she’s very strong and tucks her head in, which starts moving that saddle up. There’s not a lot you can do, we’ll put it back a little further this time and if she settles, it’ll be fine.
“That draw (1) may have its advantages, it may not, we’ll just have to see how she jumps on the day and leave it up to Bridget, she’s ridden her enough to know what she’s like.”
Sulabella will be Bradley’s sole runner this week across the country, having been well-represented at her home meeting last Saturday. Of her four runners, two were successful, including her talented stayer Bosch, who will return to the venue for an identical assignment on August 2.
“He’s come through the run well, he spent a few days in the paddock and hasn’t had a saddle on as yet, we’ll do that tomorrow,” she said. “He seems pretty bright in himself.
“It was pretty satisfying, it was good to see him get the win and it was great for the owners, who live locally.
“He’ll line-up again here in three weeks in the stayers race, then when Ellerslie is back up and going and the rain sticks around, I think he can be competitive there in some of the staying races there.”
Earlier in the day, it was the turn of Wyndspelle filly Iridescent, who was having just her second appearance to the races.
“It’s always nice to have a filly go nicely first-up, and then improve on it,” Bradley said. “For her to come out and win was great, for more local owners that have only had a couple of horses, they were over the moon.
“Full credit to the owners, she didn’t come into the stable until she was a three-year-old, so the time has done her the world of good. I liked her early on, she was just a silent achiever and did everything very easily, she was never a hassle.
“She’s been in the paddock with Bosch for the last few days and came back up this morning, I’m not too sure of my plans for her because we’re mindful of not rushing her. “She’s had the two trials and two races, so if she needs a proper break, we’re happy to give that to her. I think she’ll only improve going forward.”