Big drop in class at Awapuni on Friday will help Platinum Spirit seal a derby berth

Platinum Spirit should seal a spot in the $A1 million New Zealand Derby by running in the money in the last race at Awapuni on Friday.

The Charm Spirit colt sits on 19th in the qualifying order for the 18-horse classic to be run at Ellerslie on February 29 and a top four finish would see him make the cut-off.

Trainer Lisa Latta would obviously prefer to bank the $14,060 for first, $4500 for second or $2250 for third to elevate him more safely into the field and join his stablemate Platinum Road who is sitting pretty on eighth.

And judging by the way the horse powered home for third at Trentham last time in a much stronger field, her confidence that he can be right in the frame again is well founded.

Platinum Spirit drops to rating 65 company compared with the rating 85 rivals he faced last time in the Summer Cup, lessening the fact that he won’t be quite as well suited by the drop from 2400 metres to 2100 metres.

The task facing jockey Jonathan Riddell on Friday is to make sure he gets the horse off the fence (he’s drawn one) and into clear air in plenty of time to issue a challenge.

The meeting is being held on the inside course with its shorter home straight so there won’t be the long 450 metre run home he enjoyed at Wellington.

Two starts back, also at Trentham, he managed to get strung up in traffic for the enitre home straight.

“But I can see no reason why he can’t run another top race,” says Latta. “He has continued to work well.”

Johnathan Parkes needs to hold up Lincoln Hills for a late dash. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.While Platinum Spirit needs time to wind up, the opposite applies to Lincoln Hills who looks a decent chance in the third race.

The key to his success, says Latta, is for rider Johnathan Parkes to hold him up for as long as possible.

“The 1400 metres is right at the end of his range. At Trentham last time he popped out into the open too early in the run home and didn’t quite round it off.

“He has drawn well and has a nice barrier to use in a race where there will be some good pace.”

Latta says racing on the inside short course will be an asset to Lincoln Hills whose win two starts back on Boxing Day was on the same circuit.

“I’m not worried about his top weight of 60.5kg as he has carried top weight of 59kg before and won. This is a race he is capable of taking out.”

Latta says she will be happy just to see Master Lincoln (race five) hitting the line strongly in a race which is to condition him for a longer trip.

“His resuming run for fourth at Tauherenikau was okay and I have given him a little while between runs.”