Platinum Road … using Saturday’s Waikato Guineas as a stepping stone to the NZ Derby. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.
Platinum on Road to the derby and will find Waikato Guineas rivals too sharp
By Barry Lichter • 7 February 2020
Trainer Lisa Latta is hoping for a strong tempo in Saturday’s star-studded Waikato Guineas to help bring Platinum Road into the action.
The derby bound galloper is a $61 outsider for the 2000 metre contest and faces a small but outstanding line-up which includes NZ Derby favourite Dragon Leap and two of the country’s leading fillies in Travelling Light and Two Illicit.
And while Platinum Road has proven he is a promising stayer and only two of his rivals have scored at 2000 metres, Latta worries that with only seven runners the race might turn into a stop-start affair.
In Platinum Road’s favour is that the two Andrew Campbell-trained runners Peloton and Pimlico like to lead and Lauren Brennan’s Sword Of Freedom also likes to go forward, leaving open the possibility of a good tempo.
“He’s obviously suited to more than 2000 metres but we know he sees out the trip, whereas some of the others are unproven at the distance.
“He doesn’t pull, does everything right, and has a nice draw (three) so hopefully he won’t get too far out of his ground.
“It’s a very tough field but you’d like to see him be a bit competitive.”
Latta opted to run at Te Rapa rather than wait for the Avondale Guineas next weekend, keen not to tire the horse with two trips to Auckland in two weeks, with the $1 million New Zealand Derby on February 29.
It’s a schedule which she believes took its toll on her derby runner last year, Platinum Invador, who was an unlucky and late-dashing third after being late clear.
Platinum Road hasn’t put as many runs on the board as Platinum Invador yet but in his last three starts has shown he has a future over ground.
After powering home over 1600 metres to win at Trentham he ran a fine third over 2100 metres in his first look at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day then, last start, finished strongly for fourth over 2200 metres at Trentham.
Te Rapa’s renowned on-pace bias will be against his running style so Latta knows he could finish last and still please her from a derby point of view.
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Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”
Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”