Racing: Blathwayt earns NZ Cup favouritism

Danielle Johnson on Blathwayt wins the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup at Awapuni. Photo / RACE IMAGES PNTH

Alby MacGregor's confidence ahead of his southern venture with Blathwayt was given another winning boost at Awapuni.

The Opaki trainer has his sights set on the group three Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup with his grey six-year-old, who is now the pre-post favourite after his price was cut to $4 following his success yesterday.

Blathwayt downed a competitive line-up of distance specialists in the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup with a performance that suggested he will be ideally suited to the3200m trip of the Christchurch feature.

"Noel Harris rode him one day for me up north and he said this horse will stay all day and he's a pretty good judge," MacGregor said.

"He didn't have his first start until he was a four-year-old and he's strengthened up now and settles in his races."

Blathwayt's current preparation was opened with a first-up victory over a mile at Hastings before he finished third under 60.5kg at Otaki where he gave the winner nine kilos and the runner-up 5.5kg.

The son of Colombia dropped down the handicap to 53.5kg at Awapuni and, in the hands of Danielle Johnson for the first time, he travelled comfortably midfield on the rails.

Blathwayt was off the fence at the right time and he finished off powerfully in the straight for the seventh win of his 22-start career.

Thorn Prince also got home strongly to take second off the topweight Authentic Paddy, who made all the running and had looked a winning hope when he shot clear into the straight.

King Kamada and Benzini finished fourth and fifth respectively and did their New Zealand Cup chances no harm.