NZ Racing briefs – Baertschiger brings the best out of Faaltless
SHANE Baertschiger’s training skills were showcased on Sunday after Kiwi-bred Faaltless landed top honours on Sunday evening in the Garden City Trophy at Kranji.
The Singapore-based trainer has done an admirable job with the Westbury Stud-raised son of Faltaat, who has been plagued by injuries.
The trainer said it has been a long road to get the horse back to its top form.
“I’m very proud of the horse given the problems he had. He had chips to his fetlock and we gave him four runs and he had chips to the other fetlock,” Baertschiger said.
“He’s been a great horse to us. He has beaten horses like Zac Spirit and Emperor Max, and if not for his problems, he could have been anything.”
Baertschiger said rider Matthew Poon’s performance was also outstanding, praising the form Australian resident’s racing IQ.
“I told him to lead or sit second on Faaltless, but he took his own initiative and rolled forward. That’s what great riders do.”
ROMANCER BEGINS SPRING PREPARATION
Promising four-year-old Romancer has returned to business at his Ruakaka base.
Donna Logan, who prepares the horse alongside Chris Gibbs said there is no plans to rush the horse back into the competitive circuit.
“He’s back in work and looking good,” Logan said.
“We bring him on quietly for the better tracks.”
Romancer won twice from six appearances last season, including a pre-Christmas victory in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes at Ellerslie.
DANIS SURGERY SUCCESSFUL
Apprentice Darren Danis has undergone successful back surgery at the Christchurch Hospital.
The 25-year-old fractured his T4 and T5 vertebrae in a fall at Washdyke and his father, former jockey and now trainer Luke Danis, told the Singapore Turf Club that the subsequent operation was a success.
“We’ll have to give the injury time to heal now,” he said.
“There is of course a long recovery and rehab ahead. On behalf of my family and Darren, I’d like to thank everybody for their prayers.”
COURSE WINNER FOR RUAKAKA RETURN
Global Thinking will return to the track it recorded its last win to kick off the upcoming campaign.
Trainer Shaune Ritchie confirmed he already has a plan in place for the filly.
“She’ll run in at Ruakaka in the three-year-old race on September 2,” trainer Shaune Ritchie said.
The daughter of So You Think was a debut winner on the course last season where she beat Malambo and Countessa Vanessa, both subsequent winners.