Briefs for 7th October 2014

Group One hopes for Massale; Rawiller back on top Kiwi mare; Biologist on trial for Riccarton Mile; Christchurch carnival popular.

Group One hopes for Massale

The connections of Massale still hold Group One ambitions for the three-year-old.

The chestnut continues to make a good recovery after suffering a severe knee injury when he came to grief in last season’s Listed Karaka Classic.

Trained by Michael Moroney and Chad Ormsby, Massale had an outing at the Avondale trials a fortnight ago.

“It was a good trial and he hadn’t done a lot of galloping before that,” Ormsby said. “His leg is about 90 per cent now and it’s a matter of getting his confidence up at full speed.

“Opie (Bosson) rode him and said he was very good. The horse holds a nomination for the 2000 Guineas, but the Levin Classic is a more realistic target.”

Rawiller back on top Kiwi mare

Nash Rawiller will ride Silent Achiever in her next appearance in the $A3 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 25.

Currently in Hong Kong on a short-term contract, Rawiller will return to partner the mare for the first time since the autumn.

"He is pretty enthusiastic about her as well,” trainer Roger James said. “He can't wait to get back and ride her.”

Rawiller won the Group One weight-for-age double of the Ranvet Stakes and BMW on Silent Achiever in Sydney in the autumn.

Damien Oliver has ridden Silent Achiever three times this spring, including her last-start ninth in the Turnbull Stakes in which she got further back than anticipated.

"To be fair to Damien, he got off her on Saturday and said my blunder," James said.

Biologist on trial for Riccarton Mile

Gary Alton is looking at a Labour Day Monday assignment for his last-start stakes winner Biologist.

“We were going to Matamata, but we had a slight hiccup when he pulled a plate off and stood on it,” the Cambridge trainer said.

Biologist won the Listed Karaka Classic last month for the sixth win of his 16-start career and another bold showing at Te Rapa on October 27 could earn him a crack at the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile.

“I want to give him a run on a better track and see how competitive he is,” Alton said. “Riccarton is a long way to go to find that out.”

Christchurch carnival popular

Five weeks out from New Zealand Cup and Show Week and interest in the events at Riccarton Park are at an all-time high.

Corporate packages for Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup and NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas day on November 15 are all but sold out with limited options for the remaining two days.

Chief Executive Tim Mills said the interest and enthusiasm for the various offers has been exceptional.

“We want true racing fans to have every opportunity to attend so now is the best time to secure tickets.”