Ageless warrior Authentic Paddy is set for yet another Metric Mile on his home track on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell
Ageless warrior Authentic Paddy is set for yet another Metric Mile on his home track on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell
Iain Hyndman's Awapuni Tips 1: Igraine, Sylvester, Itellyouonething 2: Obrigado, Magic Ivan, Ave Marie 3: Gift Of Power, King Cougar, Ram Sam Sam 4: Beauden, Sea Star, Just You 5: Merlot, Keep It Savvy, Glimpse 6: Lubaya, The Heiress, Irish Flame 7: Rosewood, She's Poppy, Dez 8: Get Schroeder, Sky Hi Rahtwo, Destiny One Beauden (R4)
Awapuni trainer LisaLatta is hoping it's a case of third time lucky when her Group One galloper Authentic Paddy tackles tomorrow's Gr.3 Boehringer Ingelheim 1550m on his home track.
The veteran galloper has contested the Metric Mile feature twice previously, finishing second in both 2015 and last year.
"He generally goes well at Awapuni," Latta said. "He has run second in the Metric Mile in two of the last three years and it looks like he is going to get in not too badly at the weights."
The ageless nine-year-old pleased Latta with his fresh-up third placing in the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate, before a torrid run in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) resulted in a fading 13th.
"His first-up run was really good, and I wasn't too disappointed with the performance at Hawke's Bay," Latta said. "No horse could have carried on from that.
"He drew wide and he got caught wide and the effort told. He went the way any horse would with a run like that.
"At this stage we will probably back-up in the Open 2000m event at Hastings on the middle day of the spring carnival. That is what we did last year and then into the Livamol."
Authentic Paddy is the winner of 11 races from 85 starts, with a further 33 placings. Victory in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day is his career highlight, but the son of Howbaddouwantit boasts a further five Group One placings, having competed at the elite level on 22 occasions.
Meanwhile, Latta said Authentic Paddy would again race right through spring and summer, with the burly gelding known for holding his condition.
"He's at an age where you can't give him too much of a let-up," Latta said. "He just gets away on you. He certainly takes some work." - NZ Racing Desk
