Karen Bruce with Casual. Photo / Supplied
A jumping career for winter galloper Casual remains on hold after he scored an easy win in the $30,000 Trentham Gold Cup at Trentham on Saturday.
Casual racked up win No 10 in the 2200m open-class handicap after being scheduled to race over hurdles at Hastings two days earlier.
The
horse's Manawatu trainer and part-owner Karen Bruce said, after the win, that she entered Casual for Trentham only after nominations for the race were left open for an extra day because original entries had been light.
The 7-year-old gelding, by Bertolini, consequently did not take his place in the Hastings hurdle thus picking up a winner's purse of $18,750, which took his earnings to $110,000 with a record of 54 starts for 10 wins and 13 placings.
Casual has had one jumping start, being unplaced in a maiden hurdle at Foxton last September when sent out favourite and confirmed he would again attract similar support in that role when running away in a hurdle trial at Awapuni this month.
Just when he returns to hurdle racing seems some time off, Bruce said.
"He does jump well but we are in no hurry with him when he is going well on the flat. The jumping trials probably perk him up a bit for flat racing."
Bruce, 27, who shifted from Hawkes Bay to Palmerston North last week, joined in the ownership in 2009, when offered the horse to train as a jumping prospect by owner Patrick Myers.
In that time, Casual has won six races on the flat for Bruce and would now have to be considered for the Parliamentary Handicap (2200m) at Trentham on July 16.
Casual, a $4.90 third favourite in a field of six on Saturday, easily coped with the very heavy track conditions. He raced outside the leader, strode to the lead for rider Jonathon Parkes with 600m to run and came clear to score by 3 lengths.
In the day's other feature at Trentham, the $30,000 North Island Challenge Stakes, victory went to promising wet-track performer I Am Sam.
The 4-year-old gelding, by Al Akbar, was posting his seventh win from 17 starts. Six of his wins have been on heavy tracks.
- NZPA
