Spring Cheer back on track

Spring Cheer is back on track for a campaign aimed at another New Zealand Cup bid in November.

Spring Cheer’s latest appearance was at Wanganui when finishing sixth behind Madonna Mia in the Foxton Cup on May 30 and trainer Kevin Myers is confident he has the Bachelor Duke mare on the right path towards the Riccarton 3200-metre feature, which she won two years ago.

“Dummy [Myers] just wasn’t happy with her and he backed off her,” said Rick Williams, general manager of Spring Cheer’s owner, The Oaks Stud. “He rang the other day and said she was all right again and sound and he’ll have her ready for the New Zealand Cup again.

“I don’t know what Dummy will do with her between times but if he says he’ll get to the Cup that’s all we want to know. She was lean and mean when she won it and she’s so much stronger now.”

The 2013 New Zealand Cup was Spring Cheer’s last win, though setbacks have meant she has only six starts in the last 18 months. She was runner-up at Otaki three starts ago before finishing eighth in the Gr.3 Rotorua Cup.

Williams and Oaks Stud owner, Dick Karreman, are also looking forward to the new season with the promising fillies Reminisce and Risque.

“Reminisce has been back in work five weeks and Risque has been in about three weeks,” said Williams. “They’ve both pretty smart and they’ll be aimed at the One Thousand Guineas.”

Reminisce, a daughter of Roc De Cambes, registered two wins and three placings from six starts for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson. She won on debut at Otaki last September then again at Trentham last March and produced eye catching runs when fourth in the Gr.2 J. Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders Stakes and third in the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“She was shin sore in the Sires’ Produce and changing her legs around the bend,” said Williams. “When she flattened out she really finished it off.”

Risque, a member of the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards’ team, has had just one trial and one race. The Darci Brahma filly was a decisive trials winner at Te Awamutu last April then finished second on debut behind High Class in the Fillies Classic at Avondale.

“It was a shame we had to run her on a heavy track, but she did well,” said Williams. “She’s got a lot of talent.”

Recite, the Oaks’ Group One star, is currently at the Cambridge stud and awaiting the nod to go back into work.