Proven combination ready to roll again

Chris Johnson and Let Her Rip got on famously when they first teamed up and it could be a similar scenario when they are reunited this weekend at Hawera.

The champion jockey combined with the Cambridge mare to triumph in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) in May and on Saturday they will defend their unbeaten status in the Gr.3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

“We’re happy to have Chris back on and she has come back well from Australia,” trainer Shaune Ritchie said.

In one outing since her Rotorua success, Let Her Rip finished out of the money in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

“The trip hasn’t done her any harm and she’s ready to rock and roll,” Ritchie said. “She’s beaten fields of this quality before.

“It’s a nice race for her and she can go on any ground through to heavy, it’s not going to worry her.”

Meanwhile, the stable’s Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) prospect Bee Tee Junior will have one more start before he travels south.

“He’ll go to the Rating 85 over 2100m at Hastings and then he’ll run in the penalty-free Metropolitan Trophy on the first day at Riccarton and into the Cup,” Ritchie said.

Bee Tee Junior, who has a win and two seconds from his last three starts, will be accompanied to Christchurch by Where Are You.

The Ekraar mare won for the second time when she was successful over 2200m at Te Aroha last time out.

Where Are You, who is part-owned by New Zealand lawn bowling representative Gary Lawson, will contest a 2500m handicap on the middle day of the carnival.