Chief Stipe Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Kiwi’s QLD invasion as 34 horses cross the ditch Entriviere heads to the Doomben 10,000 first up next weekend. Picture: Trish Dunell. By Trenton Akers03:06pm • 02 May 2022 0 Comments Kiwi trainer Mark Walker says punters did not see the best of their highly touted colt Sword Of State last year during a failed spring carnival mission but can expect a better showing during the winter this time around. The New Zealand star, along with Entriviere headlines a team of 34 Kiwi-trained horses that made the trip to Brisbane over the weekend as they look to make their presence felt. With the Covid disaster of the last two years now a long memory, the Kiwi’s are returning to Queensland and Walker expects his small team of three to pack a punch. Replacing the Hong Kong-bound Jamie Richards, Walker will have Sword Of State (Gold Coast Guineas) and Soprano Supreme (Gold Coast Cup) race this weekend while Entriviere heads to the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 next week first-up. With three starts in Sydney and Melbourne during the spring, Sword Of State finished no better than fifth, but Walker says there were excuses. “He went to Australia in the spring and got a foot abscess so things never really went right for him,” he said. “His record is pretty good overall, It will be better for him this time around. “He really battled with the foot abscess over there but it is well and truly behind him now. “He has been impressive back here, Aussie sprinters are generally quicker than ours but we need to see how he measures up this time around.” Sword Of State will go around in the Gold Coast Guineas this weekend. Picture: Mark Evans — Getty Images. Walker said if the Gold Coast presents a heavy track, he would not run the colt, who boasts six wins from 10 starts in his career. Originally kicking off his career with Te Akau in New Zealand, Walker moved to Singapore to head up their Asian operation before getting the call to return home with Richards’ impending departure. While he has walked into the country’s most powerful stable, Walker says not much changes for him. “It’s a bit like riding a bike really, you don’t forget how to do it,” he said. “It has started off well. “I have had good horses when I was here before, Darci Brahma, Kings Chapel and all those sort of horses.” Leading New Zealand rider Opie Bosson will ride Sword Of State this weekend and Entriviere in the Doomben 10,000, while Kerrin McEvoy is booked for the lightweight ride on Soprano Supreme in the Gold Coast Cup. Also on the flight to Brisbane was dual Group 1 winner Coventina Bay, who will be ridden by Sam Collett in the Hollindale Stakes this weekend. It comes as trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young consider bringing their Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Glint Of Hope over for the Queensland Oaks later in the carnival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 We can't even reschedule or find another venue for a meeting in this country (Woodville latest), how we expect to get good fields I'll never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 3 hours ago, Huey said: We can't even reschedule or find another venue for a meeting in this country (Woodville latest), how we expect to get good fields I'll never know. Perhaps they realised they had programmed 4 CD meetings in 9 days, the first 3 all low key meetings, and no way would there be enough horses to go around. Having read about the judge at Timaru being fined for his mistake I wonder if others who make programming mistakes etc could be fined as well for bringing the industry into disrepute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 2 hours ago, Doomed said: Perhaps they realised they had programmed 4 CD meetings in 9 days, the first 3 all low key meetings, and no way would there be enough horses to go around. Having read about the judge at Timaru being fined for his mistake I wonder if others who make programming mistakes etc could be fined as well for bringing the industry into disrepute. They may well have done, but once the meeting has been carded it should be run somewhere in the vicinity. I have absolutely no faith in their programming , but think this is more likely to do with the noms for Woodville out doing other more preferred venues which doesn't fit with their rationalization narrative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 17 hours ago, Huey said: We can't even reschedule or find another venue for a meeting in this country (Woodville latest), how we expect to get good fields I'll never know. This Woodville date next year has moved to the new AWT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 11 hours ago, mikeynz said: This Woodville date next year has moved to the new AWT. exactly, wait till some of the bigger CD trainers start moaning about the AWT , it'll happen sure as day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bid Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 10 hours ago, Huey said: exactly, wait till some of the bigger CD trainers start moaning about the AWT , it'll happen sure as day. Haven't heard anyone that is excited about it that's for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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