WELLINGTON - Matamata horseman Bob Autridge has always enjoyed the winter meeting at Trentham - and he is back for more.
Autridge will have only two runners at the meeting but has realistic hopes of winning two of the feature races.
He lines up Hawkes Bay Steeplechase winner Kiwi Export in the $10,000 Riddiford Steeplechase (4000m) tomorrow and stablemate Ruakiwi Lad will be a form runner for the $30,000 Whyte Handicap (1600m) next Wednesday at Trentham.
The Riddiford will be Kiwi Export's only start and Autridge resisted the temptation to nominate the horse for the $50,000 Wellington Steeplechase (5600m) on July 15.
Autridge will instead reserve Kiwi Export for the $50,000 Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on August 12.
"The national is the race I really want to have a go at and I think the main 'chase at Trentham would be a bit far for him on a heavy track," Autridge said.
The Hawkes Bay Steeplechase was Kiwi Export's first run over country this year and he should be fitter for the race.
"He's come through the race very well," Autridge said.
Autridge would get a special thrill if Ruakiwi Lad won the Whyte. Autridge won the Whyte in 1963 with Sweetnotes, the first horse he owned.
Autridge also owned, trained and rode Foxonewa to a memorable Wellington Hurdles win in 1969 and produced Destino to win the first steeplechase run on the figure-eight course.
Foxonewa, who was also placed in the Winter Oats and Parliamentary Handicap at the Trentham winter meeting, carried 68.5kg (10st 11lb), on a 57kg minimum, when he won the Wellington Hurdles.
Statistics suggest that the Whyte might not be an ideal race for Ruakiwi Lad.
The five-year-old has yet to win a race on a heavy track and also has an indifferent record over 1600m with one win from 10 attempts.
However, those figures might be deceiving. He has been placed in heavy ground and has won four races on soft tracks. He also ran second over 1600m at Hastings last Saturday and raced well in top company at the distance last spring.
He finished fifth, beaten less than three lengths, in the group one Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in October.
Ahead of him were the top performers Cent Home, Hero, Batavian and Integrate and behind him were the likes of Aimee Jay, Trounced, Oregon Power, O'Malley's Boy and Kaapeon.
"He's a fit, tough little horse, and should come in at the right weight," Autridge said.
- NZPA
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