A very pleasing trial by Heavens Keep at Awapuni this morning has given trainer Lucy Tanner a lot of confidence going into Saturday's meeting at Hawke's Bay
05 October 2017
Thursday - October 5th
By RON GURNEY
A very pleasing trial by Heavens Keep at Awapuni this morning has given trainer Lucy Tanner a lot of confidence going into Saturday's meeting at Hawke's Bay. Fast work took place on the plough (good), with just one gallop recorded on the No 1 grass (slow).
Heavens Keep used the plough and had unraced stablemate Eugenie Joy (by Dalghar) alongside over 1000m (1.10.2), increasing the tempo as they went to come the final 800m in 51.2, the last 600 in 36.8. Heavens Keep tackles the r85 mile on Saturday, the same race he won 12 months ago at double-figure odds ridden by Johnathan Parkes, who is back on board. Last-start winners Sir Nate and Platinum Volos were paired over 800m in 51.7, the last 600 in 37.3, and a Postponed mare trained by Stephen Nickalls took 53.3 and 38.4. A Nom du gelding, also trained by Nickalls, covered 1000m in 1.7.4, the last 600 in 38.2. Hawke's Bay runner Brad Thorn (r75 2200m) did a quiet round (1400m) before picking up Stephenstihls (r75 1400m) on the second circuit to run 1000m in 1.8.1, the last 600 in 38.1, while a Guillotine gelding from the Nickalls barn clocked 1.9.5 and 38.7. Elucidate completed a nice 1000m in 1.4.8, the last 600 in 39.1, and Mango (by Falkirk), unplaced on debut in May, came up with 1.8.6 and 39.2. That's Amore and Kathy's Lincoln were on terms throughout 800m in 55.1, the last 600 in 40.5. Raul, who was a costly failure on debut in the autumn, ran 800m in 55.5, the last 600 in 41.5, and an Alamosa half-sister to Mighty Matt sprinted 600m in 41.2. Hawke's Bay entrant Beefeater (r85 mile), who will race without blinkers, had French Serge for a partner over a quiet 1000m in 1.12.8, the last 600 in 42.3.
On the No 1 grass, an Iffraaj filly and an Alamosa gelding, both trained by Lisa Latta, covered 800m in 53.4, the last 600 in 39.7.