Briefs for 24th October 2014

Trainers following proven formula; Statham on track for big sprints; Prince Mambo on target for Guineas; Lammas close to fairy tale return.

Trainers following proven formula

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are following a familiar three-year-old path with Eye Raced Ninety.

The Cambridge trainers have sent the son of Savabeel south for Saturday’s Listed Armadillo Stakes at Riccarton off the back of a last-start success closer to home.

“It’s the same race Atlante won last year after he won the same maiden at Avondale,” Baker said. “We think this horse has got a lot of ability and he’s still in the 2000 Guineas.”

To be ridden by Matthew Cameron, Eye Raced Ninety had placed at his two previous appearances before his breakthrough victory.

“I thought he won very well at Avondale and he’s a big, strong horse and a full-brother to Warren The Rooster, who won the Wanganui Guineas,” Baker said.

Statham on track for big sprints

Stakes placed sprinter Statham set himself up for a repeat tilt at some of country’s major short course events with a hollow victory at Te Awamutu on Friday.

“We wanted to bring him back a grade or two and get his confidence back and winning again,” co-trainer Scott Lucock said.

It was mission accomplished for Statham who, under 59kg, toyed with his Rating 85 rivals in the run home.

A minor placegetter in both the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap and the Listed Newmarket Handicap last season, Statham may again follow a similar path with the Gr.1 Railway Stakes also a likely target.

Prince Mambo on target for Guineas

Go Racing manager Albert Bosma won’t be surprised or disappointed if Prince Mambo finds one or two of the colt’s Gr.3 Sarten Memorial rivals too sharp for him on Monday.

“It’s a very strong field and it’s 1400 metres – he’s looking for a mile and horses like Vinnie Eagle and O’Marilyn will probably got a little bit too hard for him,” he said.

“I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse in the Sarten on Monday with a view to the mile in the 2000 Guineas.”

Runner-up in last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Prince Mambo finished a close second to Turn Me Loose last time out in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas.

Lammas close to fairy tale return

A three-year-old trainer Stephen Marsh didn’t expect to still have in his saddle denied the rider of the runner-up a dream comeback at Te Awamutu on Friday.

Debutant Tinder claimed the 1150 metre maiden at the expense of Ultimate Image, who was partnered by Cameron Lammas.

“I thought he might have been sold by now,” Marsh said. “He jumped okay and I thought he might lead, but he was happy to sit in the trail and it was a good effort.”

Ultimate Image’s rider Lammas has spent the last 20 months on the side-line following an incident in the gates at Wairoa when he suffered serious leg injuries that required an extensive rehabilitation process.