In-form Ears Back on stakes path

[Wandering Eyes]

An exciting period for stakes racing in the South Island is looming and trainer John Blackadder hopes Saturday’s Wingatui meeting can be a springboard to some feature contests for a pair of his talented gallopers.

The Rangiora horseman will travel south with his stable star Ears Back, a seven-win mare who added her most recent success in the Timaru Cup (1600m) last-start. With a view on targeting the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) on March 1, the mare will step back in distance in a competitive Brent Lucas Builders (1400m).

“She’s come through the Timaru Cup really well, I was so pleased to get a nice win with her after she got knocked over in the TAB Mile,” Blackadder said. “She likes being on the pace now, she just sits on speed and fights, she really grinds it out.

“Her favourite distance is a mile, so we’re aiming for the White Robe Lodge, but you’ve got to keep them ticking over,” he said.

“She’s won at Ascot over 1400, so I don’t think the distance will be too much of an issue.”

An up-and-comer in his care is Show Pony, a three-year-old by Vespa who showed his raw ability finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) back in October, at just his second start. The gelding continued on to New Zealand Cup Week, where he finished in the same position behind Lil Zena in open age-group company.

The trio of Guineas races in the region (Gore, Southland and Dunedin) are on Blackadder’s radar, with the Property Brokers (1200m) presenting as the ideal starting point.

“He’s had a good break and we’re getting him ready for the Guineas races coming up,” Blackadder said.

“He’s been working nicely, I was hoping for another three-year-old lead-up race so we decided to take him down to Wingatui. He’s more of a 1400-1600 horse, but it’s a good race to kick off with.

“His work doesn’t justify what he does at the races to be honest, he’s a bit of a lazy horse on the beach, similar to Ears Back, but that’s okay because they put their best out on race-day.”

Both to be ridden by apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper, Ears Back and Show Pony currently sit third-favourite in their respective races in even TAB markets.

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