Festivity heads to Hawera

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Jamie Richards is hoping third time’s the charm with five-win mare Festivity (NZ) (I Am Invincible).

In her two prior starts this campaign the daughter of I Am Invincible finished sixth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and posted the same result over the same distance at Te Rapa last week, and Richards said she was luckless in both.

“She has had a couple of runs under her belt now and had no luck in either of them,” Richards told The Form.

“She raced outside the leader in the Foxbridge and I thought she fought on well under the circumstances.

“She got caught four and five deep last week at Te Rapa in a good race and was out where no one was winning.”

Initially planning to head to the last day of the Hastings Spring Carnival with her next week, Richards has elected to head to Hawera on Saturday instead where she will line-up in the Gr.3 Wyndspelle @ Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

“She was going to head to the Red Badge (Gr.3, 1400m) next week at Hastings but I was quite keen to stay away from that, I think that is going to be quite a rich race,” Richards said.

“Hopefully we have gone the right way. We have ended up with Jonathan Riddell onboard, which I think is a big plus. It does look a pretty even field.

“We will roll the dice there on Saturday provided that we are happy with how the track conditions turn up on Saturday morning.”

TAB bookmakers have installed Festivity a $5 second favourite behind the Chrissy Bambry-trained Bellacontte at $3.80.

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