Falcons Reach up ready to roar first up
FALCONS Reach resumes on Thursday at Wanganui after a four month layoff, and connections are expecting a big performance first up.
The Road To Rock mare will be making its first race start since March when it runs in the New Zealand Bloodstock Pearl Series Race.
Trainer Roger Allen said the gun runner needed time off to find peak fitness.
“After she won her last start at Tauherenikau she knocked herself and got a haematoma, which then got infected so she had to have a month off,” Allen said.
“She’s all good now and she galloped well yesterday morning, she doesn’t mind sticky tracks.
“She might need a run, but I think she’ll be up for the fight.”
The winner of three of it 18 starts, Falcons Reach will be ridden by the in-form three kilo claiming apprentice Kate Cowan.
Another fresh runner from the stable at Wanganui will be Zip Zap, who will return to racing in the New Zealand Bloodstock Pearl Series Race for the maiden gallopers.
The filly was brought to the stable with rock bottom expectations, but Allen said he has been pleasantly surprised by its trackwork.
“Some friends bought her off gavelhouse, she was with Te Akau,” Allen said.
“They bought her as a broodmare, but she’s only a three-year-old so I said why not have a go with her.”
A half-sister by Stravinsky to two winners, Zip Zap is from the family of the multiple Australian group gne winner Grand Armee.
“She’s a big, strong filly, but she can be very nervy.
“I’ve only had her six or eight weeks so we’re still getting to know her and we’ll just see how she goes.”