Mike Breslin will be going in all directions over the next few days after changing plans with his good galloper Ringo.
The Awapuni trainer will fire one shot with the in-form maiden Son Of Surf at Waverley on Thursday then head to Te Rapa the following day with Ringo for the open sprint before trekking to Hastings on Saturday with his two runners, Brad Thorn and Stephenstihls.
“He hasn’t really been hitting out as well as I want in his work and I’m just worried the track at Hastings might be too good for him,” Breslin said.
“It’s a slow track at Te Rapa and that should suit him better. Opie Bosson will ride him and he’s done well on him before.”Bosson’s last ride on Ringo was when he ran a close second to Addictive Habit in the 2015 Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and his other ride on the Fastnet Rock eight-year-old was a winning one, at Te Rapa four years ago.
Ringo has been runner-up in the last two Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, last year splitting Battle Time and Nashville, and he also ran in the 2013 contest won by Scapolo.He is again an entry for this year’s 1600-metre feature, on November 15, but Breslin said he must show some improvement to warrant the trip south.
“He’s lost a bit of his dash in trackwork. He’s bright and well in himself, but I want to see him do a bit more.”Ringo has been off the winner’s list since the Gr.3 Red Badge Sprint 12 months ago, but between times he has picked up five placings in eight starts, including a third to Aide Memoire in last December’s Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and second in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile.
He resumed with a 10th in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings early last month.“He made up reasonable ground (in the Tarzino Trophy) and the track was a bit shifty for him,” Breslin said.
“I just want to wait and see how he goes this time then assess what level to aim at. He’s a big horse with a bit of wear and tear on his joints.I’ve popped him over a few ponies (pony fences) to vary his work.”Breslin admits he is going into the Hastings meeting on Saturday more hopeful than confident with his two charges, Brad Thorn and Stephenstihls.
“It’s the first over ground this time in for Brad Thorn and though he’ll prefer the better ground, he’ll improve with it,” he said. “As for Stephenstihls, it’s five weeks between runs. I’ve brought him back in distance (from 1600m) and he’ll be better in his next one.”Son Of Surf rates a good chance for Breslin in the opening event at Waverley after three placings, including a last-start second to Smokin’ Oak, in four appearances.
“He’s from Surf Patrol, a mare I trained. She won seven races and she was a pony like this one,” Breslin said. “He went a solid race last time and is starting to show a bit of her fight.”
