Better Not Blue ready for Provincial Championships assault
KEMBLA Grange trainer Michelle Ritchie is elated with her consistent galloper Better Not Blue ahead of Saturday’s Provincial Championships final (1400m) at Randwick.
The five-year-old gelding comes into the event with a six week spell since its most recent run, which produced second-placing in the qualifier at Wyong behind Noble Joey.
Despite a few minor hiccups, Ritchie said her charge has trained well since then, with a soft trial at Warwick Farm last month to round out its preparation for the $400,000 feature.
“I would have liked him to go a bit harder at his trial, but he was on the pro-ride track and he wasn’t real sure so it was only a soft hit out,” Ritchie told Horse Betting.
“He has also missed a little bit of work with all the wet weather, but that can’t be helped – our track was shut for a few days but I made do by taking him to Warwick Farm and working him up there.
“Other than that he has trained on great – he is very well at the moment – I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Ritchie said the testing 1400m journey will be a challenge for Better Not Blue this week from barrier 10, but says her charge must be rated a chance based on class.
“The 1400m is a slight concern – I know he runs it out at Rosehill, but it is a bit tougher at Randwick because they have got to go up the rise and the heavy track makes it tougher as well.
“I don’t want to be further back than midfield – there is a lot of speed in the race, but I am hoping he can settle with a bit of cover just off the pace.
“It’s a tough field – [Pomelo] is the one to beat as she is a nice mare, but in saying that my bloke is going well – he only just got beat in a group race in Queensland and he is listed placed.
“He has raced against some very good horses so I think people are underestimating him a bit because he is definitely up to the challenge of racing these horses – but of course he will still need some luck.
“Josh Parr is riding him this week and he has ridden him a few times now in races and trials so he understands him and I am sure he will get the best out of him on Saturday.”
A winner of four from 21 with $240,000 in career earnings, the striking son of Churchill Downs and Mehter has turned into a bargain buy for Ritchie who purchased him as a two-year-old gelding.
“I bought him at a Ready to Run sale at the Gold Coast when he had just turned two. He was a flashy little guy and no one paid much interest in him so I was able to pick him up for $10,000.
“It is a lot tougher owning them yourself – I have to fork out for all the bills and unless they are making a return I can’t really keep going – but in turn it is also a lot more rewarding.
“This boy is very special because I have trained him and ridden him the whole time – he has brought me a lot of joy.
“He is a lovely horse and I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
For Ritchie, who juggles a team of show horses in addition to training a team of four race horses, she always knew she wanted to work within the equine industry.
“It started when I was a child – I have ridden horses my whole life and to this day I still have show horses – I am off to the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Monday so it is going to be a big weekend.
“I always knew growing up that I wanted to work with horses…it is a very challenging industry – there are a lot of highs and lows – especially on your own because you tend to carry a lot of weight on your shoulders – but I do love it and enjoy it.”
With $212,000 going to the winner of Saturday’s race, Ritchie concedes it will be a dream come true if Better Not Blue can cross the line in first position.
“It would be so overwhelming to win – I would love to do it for the horse because he is a super little fella and I think he deserves to win a race like this.
“To win it would just make me so happy.”
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