Kris Shailer won the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) four years ago with Alabama Gold when training in partnership with Stephen Autridge, and this year he is hoping to win it in a solo capacity.
Shailer now heads Waikato Stud’s Courtza Park operation where he trains a small race team for the farm on top of his primary commitments of breaking in and pre-training.
He has a near faultless record in that role, recording three wins and a runner-up result from just four starts this term, and he said he is loving being back at the races.
“I am pretty lucky,” he said. “To have four runners in the last month for three winners and a second is unheard of, but I am very grateful to the team here for giving me them to train.”
Banquo two-year-old gelding Justin Case is responsible for one of those victories, after finishing runner-up on debut, and he will get his first tilt at stakes level when he lines-up in the Fairview-sponsored Matamata Slipper this weekend.
“He has come through that last run well and his work on Tuesday morning was great, he just worked on his own but was running times the rest of them were running on the course proper,” Shailer said. “I am really happy with him.
“I won this race in partnership with Stephen Autridge a few years back with Alabama Gold, it will be great to have a runner in my own name and in the Waikato Stud colours.”
Justin Case has drawn the outside gate in the seven-horse field and will be ridden by Samantha Collett.
All going to plan after Saturday, Justin Case will likely test his talent in a couple of looming elite-level events.
“There is the Sistema (Gr.1, 1200m) in a couple of weeks and he is nominated for the Manawatu Sires’ (Gr.1, 1400m),” Shailer said. “But we will just get through Saturday and make a plan after that.”
Stablemate Convinced is also set for a tilt at black-type following her debut victory at Matamata last month, while promising gelding Magice has returned to work after overcoming a virus late last year.
“Convinced has bounced through her first-up run and she is going to head to the Uncle Remus (Gr.3, 1400m) next week,” Shailer said.
“Magice had a virus a while back and he had a good month in the paddock. He is over that now and has been back in work for four weeks and I am really happy with him.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
