On-course trainer David Greene’s optimism has grown as the week has progressed, with Te Rapa’s track improving into the Soft range ahead of Saturday’s Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate meeting.
The Hamilton horseman’s Group One-winning sprinter First Five is set to resume in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) this weekend, with the gelding reliant on better footing.
The six-year-old son of Almanzor has yet to line-up on a Heavy track, and Greene said he wasn’t about to change that this weekend, and he was relieved to see the track improve this week to a Soft7, allowing his stable star to have home advantage in his resuming run.
“The track is looking like it is coming back a bit, so it gives some of those better track horses enough encouragement to put their hat in the ring, and it is a smart field,” Greene said.
“The firmer the better for him, and that is clearly shown in his form. All his work at home backs that up as well. I am hoping we might see that (track rating) move from a (Soft)7 to a (Soft)6, which would be a plus. We will definitely be running at those (track conditions) and just hoping for the best.
“He definitely won’t start on a Heavy, 7 is the worse we would start him on.”
First Five was a breakout star among New Zealand’s sprinting ranks last season, winning his last three starts, including the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
Greene has been pleased with the way First Five is building into his preparation, and he had one quiet trial up at Ruakaka heading into his season opener.
“He seems to be in pretty good order and worked really well on Tuesday morning,” Greene said. “It will be interesting and exciting to see him back out on the track.”
First Five is currently a $6.50 second favourite with TAB bookmakers behind market leader Alabama Lass at $2.50.
Following Saturday’s run, First Five will head to Ellerslie a fortnight later to contest the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) before heading south to Hastings to try his luck over a mile for the first time in two years in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m).
“Everything works to and from the Proisir Plate and we will be guided from that where we go,” Greene said. “But we plan on giving him a go in the mile race.
“He confuses you a little bit because the type of horse he is and how he works. He has got a big, long, loping stayers stride on him, and it is surprising how sharp he is and how much he relishes sprinting.
“He won over a mile as a four-year-old. He is a six-year-old now and is bigger and stronger, so he should be able to do it. He will get his chance, and if he can get a genuine mile then he is an even scarier animal for people to deal with I would imagine.”
First Five will likely be joined at Ellerslie on Proisir Plate Day by stablemates Bethany Dee and Sweet Ice, who resumed at Ruakaka last Saturday with second and eighth placings respectively.
“That was a brave run by Bethany Dee,” Greene said. “With the small field and the wide draw, she was forced to push forward, and she was left a little bit flat on the corner when they quickened up. She stuck on well and it was a good resuming second.”
“She will go up to Ellerslie on the 5th as well, there is a (rating) 75 1300m, and she has gone pretty well at Ellerslie before. I think that should be a really nice race for her.
“The plan for Sweet Ice is to race on the same day as well in the (rating) 65 mile. He was a little bit disappointing out the gates (at Ruakaka) and got back into an awkward spot. He is looking for more ground already and is another horse who has shown a liking for Ellerslie in the past.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
