Champion apprentice James McDonald took the obligatory week extension of his licence to allow him to ride next Saturday after being suspended for six riding days in winning the $60,000 Cambridge Clothing Interprovincial on Leebrearne at New Plymouth on Saturday.
The recently introduced week's extension - designed to
prevent inconvenience to connections of horses with upcoming engagements - will allow McDonald the opportunity to partner Leebrearne in Saturday's $75,000 Rangitikei Gold Cup if the horse backs up and McDonald decides that Awapuni is where he will ride this weekend.
The alternative is a strong card of races at Te Rapa.
Leebrearne is a focal point for trainer Craig Ivil, son of outstanding trainer, the late Garth Ivil and father of Jayne Ivil, currently caring for Seachange in England.
McDonald was charged with careless riding in allowing Leebrearne to drift off its line and severely interfere with one of the favourites, Keep The Message, in the closing 150m.
You should never take away glory from race winners, but not one person watching the race came away believing Stand Tall was a good thing beaten in the race.
The moderating factor is that Stand Tall wasn't unlucky - he beat himself by refusing to gallop early.
It's something he's done before and it's now up to his new trainer John Wheeler to sort that out.
Remarkably, Stand Tall cost himself 10 to 12 lengths at the start and was 10 lengths behind the second-last horse at the 900m.
To be only half a head and a long neck from the winner was staggering.
That was start No 1 for new trainer John Wheeler. "I'll get him sorted out," said Wheeler, one of New Zealand's best horsemen.
