Full Count to change stable’s fortunes

Full Count will be out to make up for a bewildering run by his stablemate Sureasyouwereborn last weekend when he races at Wingatui on Wednesday.

Tapanui trainers Nikki and Barrie Blatch had hoped to be celebrating another win by Sureasyouwereborn in the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton last Saturday, but instead they were left mystified after the mare dropped out with 500 metres to run and was eased right down to finish last, almost 39 lengths from the winner, Authentic Paddy.

Sureasyouwereborn had produced a good dress rehearsal for the 2000-metre feature when a close second to Benzini a week earlier on the same course and had been working well.

“We thought she would be hard to beat,” said Nikki Blatch. “Darryl (Bradley) said she was travelling sweetly then felt funny for a stride. He thought something had gone wrong so he eased her right up.”

Sureasyouwereborn underwent a post-race examination which showed no abnormalities and there has been no sign of a problem since the race.

“We took her back to the stalls and she wouldn’t have blown a match out – mind you she didn’t do anything so she shouldn’t have,” said Blatch. “There’s nothing wrong with her. I don’t know what went wrong.”

The Blatches were advised that Sureasyouwereborn must trial to the stipendiary stewards’ satisfaction before next racing and that poses a problem.

“It’s difficult to do that down this way with few jumpouts and trials,” said Blatch. “I’m surprised she has to trial. She didn’t play up or cause any trouble in the race.”

The Blatches were hoping to start Sureasyouwereborn next in the $40,000 NZI Great Autumn Stakes (2500m) at Riccarton on May 7, but having to trial beforehand she may be forced to miss the event.

“If she can’t get to the Great Autumn, we’d look at the Wairio Cup,” said Blatch.

The Wairio Cup (2000m) at Winton on May 15 is on the programme for Full Count if he performs well in the Southern Wide Real Estate Ray Kean 1400 on Wednesday.

Full Count, a former northerner, will benefit from the 3kg claim of apprentice Darren Chin and will come into the race with 57.5kg, 3.5kg above the minimum.

“We really didn’t want to run him at Wingatui, but we want to try him over ground in the Wairio Cup,” said Batch. “Getting the three kilo claim will be a big help this time.”

The Wairio Cup will be Full Count’s first test over ground since joining the Blatch stable this season.

“We had him up to 1800m, but he was going so good at 1400m to 1600m we’ve kept him at those distances,” said Blatch. “He won over ground when Roger James had him.”