Mathews in high spirits ahead of Trentham

[Wandering Eyes]

Otaki trainer Howie Mathews is in high spirits ahead of heading to Trentham on Sunday where he will be represented by stable stalwart Free Spirit and newcomer Gee Force.

Eight-year-old mare Free Spirit has been a consistent performer for Mathews, particularly in the latter stages of her current preparation, with the seven-win mare having finished runner-up in three of her last four starts.

Despite performing on all surfaces, Mathews said Free Spirit prefers rain-affected going but has elected to continue racing her into summer because of her pleasing run of form and lucrative prizemoney on offer, with Sunday’s Taylor Property Plus 2100 carrying a $50,000 purse.

“I was probably going to turn her out because she is really more of a mare that likes her toe in the ground, but I have left her in work because she has been racing so well and I always thought there may be the chance that you get a race like this that only has very moderate numbers for pretty good stake money,” he said.

“The way she has been racing, I thought it was a perfect race for her, with 54kg and three (kg) off with Toni Davies (apprentice jockey) on. We are taking a throw at the stumps and seeing how things go.”

Mathews said Free Spirit is a beneficiary of the ratings system, which has helped extend her racing career.

“In the old days, before the ratings system, seven-win horses would have to race in open company all day long, but she is pretty lucky, she has won seven and she is back in 65 grade,” he said.

“We are just taking advantage of the stronger class, and she does race well with lesser weight on her back.”

Mathews is leaning towards spelling his mare post Sunday, however, he hasn’t ruled out pressing on with her if she performs beyond expectations.

“At this stage, she has had quite a long season, she isn’t telling me that she needs to go out, but she probably needs to go out now after this one,” he said.

“But if she wins and runs a slasher, who knows, we are always looking for that unseasonable bit of rain at this time of the year and it brings a horse like her into contention quite strongly. Never say never.”

Mathews is also looking forward to lining up Gee Force in the Rothley 1300.

The four-year-old son of U S Navy Flag will have his second start for the stable, having been purchased off gavelhouse.com, with a deal brokered after he failed to reach his $10,000 reserve.

Previously trained by Johno Benner and Holli Wynyard, Gee Force had four starts for the former Otaki training partnership, for a placing.

He ran fourth over 1200m for Mathews at Otaki last month, and his trainer is excited about his prospects.

“He is a bit of a hobby horse,” Mathews said. “I bought him with a very good friend of mine, Nayton Mitchell, who started training in the South Island.

“We have had a lot of success with horses from Gavelhouse and I like him. He was trained by our good friends Hollie Wynyard and Johno Benner, and he just needed time. I spoke with Hollie and she said he will win races but just be patient with him.

“Now he has turned four, he has had a break after he had been in work up north. We are happy with his trials, and his jumpouts have been great. We are taking him on trust, but he will probably end up in the South Island.

“I said to Nayton that I will give him two or three runs up here, assess how he is going, and when he is cherry ripe, he can go down there. He has had three runs on the synthetic, so he may be a good horse for the synthetic in Christchurch – a nice, big, roomy synthetic track. That could be his future.”

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