Stable doubles its cup hand

Fraser Auret will present a mix of the proven and the promising in a two-handed bid for stakes honours at Awapuni.

The Marton trainer will attack Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup with the accomplished black type performer Thorn Prince and the up and coming Aide Memoire.

“Thorn Prince had trialled well before his first-up run, but the firm track wasn’t ideal for him,” Auret said.

The Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup winner and multiple stakes placegetter was unplaced when resuming at Awapuni last month, although he was only four and a half lengths from the winner Gustavo.

“I thought his run was better than it may have looked and he has done very well since – he won’t be getting a firm track this time either,” Auret said.

Thorn Prince may be more effective over more ground, but he has a handy record at 1600 metres and has runner-up finishes in both the Gr.3 Merial Ancare Metric Mile and the Listed Anzac Mile as well as a third placing in the Listed Ag Challenge Stakes to his credit.

Stablemate Aide Memoire is at the other end of the scale after moving through the grades in good time to make her open class debut.

“It’s her first crack at the big boys and the key to her chances will be dropping five and a half kilos from the other day,” Auret said.

The winner of four of her 10 starts, Aide Memoire was far too good for a Rating 75 line-up at Otaki where she made light of 59.5kg over 1400 metres.

“This is her first time at a mile, but she has been very strong to the line over 1400 metres so I don’t think it will be much of a concern at all,” Auret said.