All looking rosy for promising Platinum Petals when she steps up over ground at Hastings

Platinum Petals looks beautifully placed to show her staying potential when she steps up over ground at Hastings on Wednesday.

Trainer Lisa Latta has been very patient with Platinum Petals and on Wednesday she finds the right race, where the Deep Field filly has drawn perfectly in two, is likely to strike ideal dead footing and will be ridden by in-form comeback jockey Kate Hercock.

Latta says Hercock, 42, is just the right rider to get the best out of Platinum Petals and was the one who advised her that the filly was ready now for a middle distance.

Kate Hercock after her win on Belle Plaisir in Saturday’s Rangitikei Gold Cup. PHOTO: Race Images.Hercock, who notched her biggest win since resuming earlier this year on Saturday’s upset Rangitikei Gold Cup winner Belle Plaisir, rode Platinum Petals for the first time two weeks ago at Wanganui when she maintained a strong run right through the line for a close third over 1600 metres.

“She needs a good, strong rider and Kate has done a good job since she’s been back. There’s no point putting a weak rider on this filly as she won’t go. She does only what she’s asked for.

“She may need blinkers on eventually but I’m not in a hurry to use them as she’s only three.”

It will be only the second time that Platinum Petals has been tried over ground and her first attempt in the Group II Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day was little more than a learning experience.

“She wasn’t ready for it then and also drew wide so we took her back. She needs to be put into the race to produce her best.

“From two on Wednesday she’ll have every chance to bounce and put herself on the speed.”

The track condition at Hastings is also likely to favour Platinum Petals more than the slow 9 she struck at her last start.

The footing was a dead five this morning but while a few scattered showers are forecast it seems likely to stay in the dead range.

“That would be perfect for her - she’s been looking for better ground.”

Platinum Petals, a $90,000 yearling buy at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2019 yearling sale at Karaka for Neville McAlister and John and Lynne Street, has the right pedigree to excel over ground.

Platinum Petals worked hard to lead at Wanganui in January and fought on grimly to win. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.By Deep Field, she is the second foal out of Snow Petals, who earlier produced the good stayer Platinum Road.

Her grand dam Zirna won seven times from 1200 metres to 2200 metres, including the Group I Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha in 2003 and went on to become Singapore Horse of the Year, winning the Raffles Cup (1800m) and Singapore Gold Cup (2200m).

Zirna is also a half sister to Crafty Irna who won four times between 1500 metres and 2400 metres.

“I’m looking forward to getting her up over 2100 metres,” says Latta. “She has continued to work well and is very well in herself.”

Platinum Petals has finished in the first four in five of her nine starts, and looked very good when winning her maiden over 1600 metres in January, working hard to lead from a wide alley and fighting grimly to the line.