Richardson keen for some Riccarton revenge

Trainer Graham Richardson has his eye on a major road trip for promising sprinter Los Vargas following the mare’s gritty winning performance at Te Rapa on the weekend.

The dominant display by the lightly raced four-year-old made it an early double for the popular Matamata conditioner after Eprouvez had scored at outside odds in the first race on the card.

Richardson had felt confident about the chances of Los Vargas leading into the Nabby’s Boxing Gym sponsored 1200 metre contest until the rain arrived on Friday which saw the Te Rapa track come up a Slow9 on race morning.

“I thought she looked the main winning chance on paper when the fields first came out as I knew I had her in good shape but when the rain came it did dent my confidence a little,” he admitted.

“I said to her owners before the race that it would only be the track that would beat her but thankfully she handled it okay and proved too good for them.”

Handled to perfection by apprentice Shaun McKay, Los Vargas bounced straight to the lead from the barriers and led her pursuers a merry chase throughout the contest. Angled to the middle of the track the mare found a good kick in the run home and dashed away to win untouched by five lengths in a comfortable 1.12.16 for the 1200 metre journey.

“I had said to Shaun to try and steer her into the better going in the straight but he had already walked the track and knew exactly where he wanted to be,” said Richardson.

“She definitely doesn’t like it wet but being at Te Rapa the surface is so good when it rains that she got through it okay.”

Richardson is undecided about the mare’s immediate future however he does have plans for a trip south in the spring.

“We had her ready to go to Riccarton during Cup Week last year but she wouldn’t get on the plane,” he said.

“She went off and managed to injure herself so we had to put her away for a few months.

“Thankfully it wasn’t anything too serious but it did have some benefit as she really grew up during the break and is a lot better these days. She still is a very tough customer but she has matured to the point where she is a lot more manageable now.

“I’m dead keen to take her back to Christchurch in the spring however this time she will be going by road. Getting her black type is our main aim and those sprint features during Cup Week will definitely be to her liking.”