Promising Platinum Petals ready to bloom at Hastings on Wednesday, rain or shine

A fickle forecast for Hastings on Wednesday won’t bother promising filly Platinum Petals.

More than 15ml of rain is predicted to fall from mid-way through the card but trainer Lisa Latta says the Deep Field three-year-old can get some money in the fourth race, regardless of the conditions.

“She ran second on debut on an off track (slow 9) and from a nice draw of three on Wednesday she can put herself right on the speed.

“I expect her to weigh in again and it’s quite a strong field so we will get a good line on where she is at.”

While Platinum Petals ran only sixth last start at Awapuni, Latta says the filly’s run was a lot better than it looked on paper.

Platinum Petals … worth following.“She didn’t have all favours last start, covering a lot of extra ground from a wide draw.” Ninth and three wide, she came widest at the 350 metres and made ground to be only 5.4 lengths from winner Ha’penny Bridge.

Leading apprentice Kozzi Asano takes over from Sarah Macnab on Wednesday, claiming Platinum Petals’ weight down to 54kg.

“Hopefully we can press ahead after this and run her in some nice fillies’ races.”

Platinum Petals, who holds a nomination for the New Zealand Oaks, was a $90,000 buy at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka yearling sale in 2019 for Wellington owner Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms.

She has good staying blood in her pedigree, being out of Snow Petals, whose half sister Crafty Iran won up to 2400 metres.

Her second dam Zirna won the Group I New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and was a Singapore Horse of the Year, winning the Raffles Cup and Singapore Gold Cup.

Platinum Bordeaux’s chances will be dramatically boosted if, as predicted, 10ml of rain has arrived by race eight.

“The wetter the better,” says Latta of the mare whom she describes as much stronger this time in.

Platinum Bordeaux ran last of eight first-up at Otaki on November 26 but Latta says it was a forgive run.

“Her first-up run wasn’t as bad as it looked as she covered way too much ground to come down the outside. Even though she finished last she was only 4.9 lengths from the winner. She is really well in herself.”

Latta is also expecting an improved run from Lincoln’s Kruz in the last race.

“We pushed the button a bit soon on him last time.

“He has the perfect draw for Jonathan Riddell to be able to ride him a bit more patiently this time.

“He has continued to train on really well. I will step him up over a bit more ground after this.”

Last start in New Zealand

Lincoln Town is having his last start in New Zealand in the opening race.

He flies to Sydney on Sunday, along with stablemates Lincoln Fury and Lincoln Green, and will then be floated north to Queensland where he will join the Beaudesert stable of Ben Ahrens who already has Lincoln Sky for Lincoln Farms.

Latta says she’s experimenting with the horse on Wednesday, stepping him straight up from 1400 metres to 2100 metres.

“He gives the impression he will get over ground as he just keeps grinding away at the one pace.”