Gardner aiming for NT feature races success with Red Wraith
Would you rather win your first Alice Springs and Provincial trainers’ premiership or a NT feature?
Tough question for Paul Gardner, the Red Centre’s leading trainer with 18 wins, who starts Red Wraith in Saturday’s $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m).
The Pioneer Sprint comprises the NT’s big four – Sunday’s $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m), and the Top End’s $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) and $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m).
“I’d definitely like to win on Saturday, I’ve never won a Cup or Sprint,” Gardner said.
“We’re leading the premiership, but a feature would be cream on the cake.
“I’ve won Country Cups and the Chief Ministers Cup with Cumanaation.
“Last week’s win by Better Not Fuss in the NT Guineas was good, I’d never had a runner in the race.
“His win surprised me, he had been working well, it took a while to get him going.
“It was an A class ride by Casey Hunter in the Guineas.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Red Wraith runs well on Saturday, but it’s a big race.
“A lot of pressure, a lot of good horses.”
Red Wraith, a four-year-old gelding by Charm Spirit, was formerly trained by Murray Bridge’s Matthew Sayers where he had six starts for one win in an 1100m Port Augusta maiden.
Following a first up seventh for Gardner at Pioneer Park in September, Red Wraith has had nine further starts for five wins, three seconds and a third.
Gardner took the gelding to Morphettville in December and finished three lengths adrift of the winner in sixth place over 1050m before returning from a spell in March.
Two seconds over 1200m (0-70) and 1100m (BM76) were followed by victory in a 1000m handicap on March 27 by 5.8 lengths.
Red Wraith, who set the 1100m track record (1.01.87) in November, lumped 55.5kg last start; he carries 54kg on Saturday.
“He’s a very handy horse and he puts in 100 per cent, it was an enormous win last start,” Gardner said.
“They went fast in front and to his credit he kept chasing, but he wasn’t struggling.
“Took the rails run and shot away – he proved that he can just sit off them and as long as he’s in a nice rhythm he’ll run on.
“I took him to Adelaide because I wanted to know how much he had improved.
“For a maiden horse to now, he’s definitely at the next level.
“I’ll be happy if he wins, over the moon, I think he’s going to go close.”
Darwin jockey Sonja Logan, who will partner Red Wraith, has yet to win an NT feature.
Logan won her first NT title last season when she won Central Australia’s jockeys’ premiership, is in good form with two wins, three seconds, and two thirds at Pioneer Park on March 30.
“Sonja has ridden a lot of winners for me, she puts in every time and I couldn’t be happier she’s riding Red Wraith,” Gardner said.
“I thought barrier one to five would be a good draw in the 12-horse field, I’m pleased he’s got four.”