Local trainer Jim Pender will be hoping champion jockey James McDonald can work the oracle with Angelwithattitude at Gate Pa tomorrow.
McDonald is riding better than ever as he chases his bid to become the most successful jockey in the terms on New Zealand wins in a season. After landing four
wins last Saturday at Ellerslie, McDonald is sitting on 193 wins for the season and looks on target to break Lisa Cropp's NZ record of 198 wins and, in fact, top the 200 mark.
McDonald's wins last weekend included Quickasucan for Pender in the final event on the card, the Stella Artois 1600, and it was a wise move by the champion apprentice to save ground on the home turn which enabled him to score easily.
McDonald doesn't ride often for Pender, but when the Tauranga trainer is able to secure his services punters must watch out, as was the case last Saturday. And it could again be a successful watch tomorrow as McDonald knows Angelwithattitude has the ability to win the vero.co.nz 1400.
McDonald got a taste of Angelwithattitude's class for the first time at the recent Matamata meeting and almost came up with a win. Angelwithattitude ran on strongly for second over 1400 metres, being beaten a mere head by Poppy Rose.
Angelwithattitude has won twice from 20 starts and the most recent of those wins came at Gate Pa in May 2009. A start before at Te Rapa, she was also successful.
Since that double, the Angelwithattitude camp has had to settle for a handful of minor placings, including a second and fourth on this track. Two starts ago, she was fourth to Roly Poly at the April 3 Tauranga meeting and, before that, she was a close second at Te Teko.
Angelwithattitude's opposition tomorrow includes Shanamagh, a good winter galloper who could run a slasher fresh-up. Shanamagh's first of three wins was recorded at Gate Pa in soft going.
Cosabella and Leonucasam are last-start winners with strong chances, while Pinzee and Te Toro Lass have also been racing well.
The stakes-placed Que Sera ran an improver's race fresh-up.
