Queensland beckons black type performer

An outing on her home track on Wednesday will keep Dontpokethetiger up to the mark ahead of the Riccarton filly’s two start campaign in Queensland.

Peter Rudkin’s multiple stakes placegetter will make her Australian debut at Ipswich on Saturday week, an event that will serve as a lead-up to her main target a fortnight later.

“She’s going to have a run here tomorrow and she’ll be on a flight on Friday,” the Canterbury trainer said.

“I’ve got another horse over there with Paul Jenkins that I part-own called Precision Strike and he won the last race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

“He won from the outside gate – he’s not a bad type and when I was talking to Paul he said he would be going to Ipswich next and the same race as Dontpokethetiger.

“I don’t mind if she runs second to him, her main race will be on July 1.”

Rudkin was referring to the Gr.3 Sunshine Coast Guineas over 1600 metres, a race won by the champion mare Winx two years ago.

In the meantime, Dontpokethetiger will step out in the gavelhouse.com 3YO at Riccarton on Wednesday with Leah Hemi to take the ride.

The six-time black type placegetter hasn’t raced since she finished third in the Listed NZ Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes in early April and Rudkin isn’t expecting fireworks from the filly.

“She needs a run, but she’s got the class and she always tries hard,” he said.

He also gave stablemate Secret Belle, a lightly-tried former northerner, a strong chance in the race.

“She had a sore back, but she’s right now and she loves the wet ground,” Rudkin said.

Improvement is also expected from Lord Bentley in the Canterbury Equine Clinic Rating 75.

“He’s still on the way up as far as fitness goes,” Rudkin said. “It was far too sticky for him at Wellington an d it will be deep and loose here.”