Racing: Brownes strong at Awapuni

Ann Browne is wary Ellerslie form doesn't always carry over to Awapuni in jumps racing.

But the Waikato horsewoman, who trains in partnership with husband Ken, remains hopeful she has top chances in the two feature races at the Manawatu Racing Club's meeting at Awapuni, in Palmerston North, tomorrow.

She has three of the nine acceptors in the $30,000 Manawatu Steeplechase and two in a field of eight for the $30,000 Awapuni Hurdles.

All five horses go into their events with good form from the Queen's Birthday weekend racing at Ellerslie where heavy tracks prevailed.

Heavy ground will again be in force at Awapuni and that should assure the Browne horses of top showings - in most cases.

Ann Browne said she could recall a past top jumper of theirs, Stipulation, was one who would fail at Awapuni after racing well at Ellerslie.

"He never went any good at Awapuni," Browne said. "He always ran last, yet he could handle wet ground at Ellerslie."

The Brownes' three entries for the Manawatu Steeplechase are The Storytella, Havana City and Kia King.

The Storytella and Havana City finished second and fourth respectively to stablemate Primo Canera in the $30,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie on June 5.

Kia King won at intermediate grade steeplechase at Ellerslie on June 3 at his first race for the year and is a previous winner of the McGregor Grant Steeples.

"The three I have put in all don't mind it heavy," Browne said.

"The Storytella more or less has to have it like that to do well.

"None of them have raced there [at Awapuni] before but the three of them have all got their chance - they're useful horses without being outstanding."

The Storytella, runner-up in last year's Great Northern Steeplechase, was yesterday a $3.50 favourite for tomorrow's race while Havana City and Kia King shared second favouritism at $4.50.

The Awapuni Hurdles looks interesting in that Just A Swagger is topweight with 64.5kg and all seven other entries are on the minimum of 62kg.

The Brownes are represented in the Awapuni Hurdles by Waikiki Prince and Royal Kiwi.

Waikiki Prince looks well placed. He won the inaugural running of the $30,000 K S Browne Hurdles at Ellerslie on June 5 with 63kg. Two days before he had finished second to Royal Kiwi at Ellerslie.

- NZPA