Stewart on weather watch this summer
Leonard Stewart is one of the rare few welcoming the wet start to the summer, with the Timaru trainer trying to find some forgiving tracks for his seven-win mare Vague.
The eight-year-old daughter of Tobique found the Good 3 conditions at Riccarton over New Zealand Cup Week last month too taxing but appreciated the Good 4 conditions at Cromwell earlier this month, placing on both days of the meeting, including the Cromwell Cup (2030m) last start.
“We raced her on the middle day at Riccarton and it was a bit like concrete and she jarred up badly,” Stewart said.
“She came right and with a bit of give in the ground she responds pretty well. She had every chance at Cromwell, but she went well.”
A trip to the deep south is now on the cards this weekend, with Stewart believing the wet forecast, paired with Ascot Park’s Soft 7 rating on Wednesday morning, will suit Vague down to the ground.
“She has done well since Cromwell and with a bit of give in the ground she is going back down south,” Stewart said.
Vague has drawn barrier six in the Southland Crystals (2200m) and Stewart is hoping jockey Tina Comignaghi can find a handy position from that gate.
“She is an honest horse and Tina gets on really well with her,” he said.
“She does jump well and Tina is a good barrier rider. She should be able to get across and get handy. But it is in Tina’s hands and once the gates open, she had got to ride how they land.”
Stewart will continue to keep his eye close on the weather forecast over summer, which will dictate where Vague heads over the warmer months.
“We are just going to try and go where there is a good give in the ground and where they have good irrigations systems. We just have to go by the weather with her,” he said.
Joining Vague on the float trip south this weekend will be stablemates Miss Miranda, Zadane, and Diamond Riviere.
Miss Miranda is another in good form, taking a win and placing into the Howley Joinery Handicap (1200m), however, she may be saved for another day if rain persists.
“She is still maturing,” Stewart said of the four-year-old mare.
“If they did get rain she wouldn’t start. Anything worse than a Good4 is a bit stressful on her, so we are just taking our time and spacing her races.”
Meanwhile, stablemates Zadane and Diamond Riviere will be looking to recapture form in The Edge Handicap (1600m) and Rex Cochrane Memorial Handicap (2200m) respectively.
“I think Danika (Wilson, apprentice jockey) will suit Zadane,” Stewart said.
“In the 65 race he is going to be well up in the weights (60kg) and Danika takes four off, so that will help a lot. I think her style of riding will help him.
“Diamond Riviere has been working well. She hasn’t had a lot of luck lately, but she has been working well. If there is a bit of give in the ground that will be in her favour too.”