Horse racing: Triple threat for Lance Robinson in huge-money synthetic track final

Sonnet is one of three reps trainer Lance Robinson has in the $100,000 Polytrack Final at Riccarton. Photo / Race Images

Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson is a big advocate for synthetic-track racing, and he is looking forward to lining up a trio of runners in the country’s equal-richest polytrack race at his home track today.

“It [the Polytrack Championship] is great, especially for the lower-grade horses,” Robinson said. “Getting a crack at being able to run for $100,000 at this time of year is excellent.

“I am a big fan of the polytrack, especially at this time of year. We wouldn’t have half of the horses in work if it wasn’t for the polytrack. We can also have spring horses going a little bit earlier down here as we have got the poly to work on.”

Robinson has qualified three runners for the $100,000 Polytrack Championship (1200m), including Delphillius, Elusive Impact and Sonnet, and he is proud to have the equal-highest representation in the race alongside Balcairn trainers John and Karen Parsons.

“It is good that we have qualified three horses for it,” Robinson said.

Elusive Impact won first-up on the track over the same distance last month, and Robinson is hopeful of a repeat performance on Wednesday, despite drawing barrier 18.

“Elusive Impact has a tricky draw,” Robinson said. “He will go forward a bit and slot in somewhere behind the speed and we will work it out from there.

“But he has done really well, we are happy with him.”

Delphillius has also drawn unfavourably in barrier 15, and Robinson said jockey Courtney Barnes will likely adopt similar tactics.

“Delphillius has an awful draw too,” Robinson said. “She is a go-forward horse, so hopefully she can go forward and slot in somewhere.”

Three-win mare Sonnet will complete Robinson’s representation and she will jump from the more favourable alley of two, with Kate Hercock aboard.

“Sonnet just hasn’t had any luck in her last three starts, she had terrible draws and just hasn’t had the rub of the green,” Robinson said. “She is in with a runner’s chance.”

Robinson will have two further representatives on the Riccarton undercard, with Moonlighting first up in the Stallion Tenders Now Open Maiden (1200m), and In Awe in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Rating 65 (1600m).

“It’s the first-up run with Moonlighting,” Robinson said. “She hasn’t had a trial, but she has had a couple of jumpouts and gone well. She has got quite a bit of ability.

“We have got a good rider [Bruno Queiroz] on and she has got a good draw [1], so she will slot in behind the speed somewhere and hopefully she runs well. Whatever she does on Wednesday, she will improve on.

“In Awe has got an awful draw [16] but he is going well. He loves the polytrack and he always tries hard.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Robinson will have a quartet of runners competing on the final day of the Grand National Festival of Racing at Riccarton.

“We have got Bella Luce and Mr Bully Tee in the 75 mile, and they should both be good chances,” he said.

“Waihora Mist will back up from the other day. She steps up to 2000m, which I think suits her. And Highland Fling is in the 65 1400m, and he should run well.”

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk