D’Llaro hiccup may help horse in long run
Graeme Lord believes a setback earlier in D’Llaro’s campaign may prove a blessing in disguise for his reigning Great Northern Hurdles champion.
The Cambridge trainer was forced to go easy with the 10-year-old after a couple of flat runs in the autumn.
“He ran a nice fourth at Tauranga and he went well at Pukekohe and I was getting him ready for the Ken Browne Hurdles and the Waikato Hurdles when a splint arrived,” Lord said.
“I had to back off him and it’s settled down now. It might not have been the worst thing as he’s got fresh legs.”
D’Llaro returned to finish a tidy fifth in a highweight earlier this month and he will further his preparation at Te Aroha on Friday in the Patron Paddy’s Open Hurdle.
“He’s come through that last run well and he’s a lot fitter than I thought,” Lord said.
“Even though he’s a 10-year-old he doesn’t take too much work and keeps himself pretty fit.”
D’Llaro, who will be ridden by Shaun Fannin, is being aimed at the defence of his Schweppes Great Northern title at Ellerslie on September 9.
“He’ll have this one and there’s a hurdle race for him on Pakuranga Hunt Cup day,” Lord said. – NZ Racing Desk.