Tim and Margaret Carter are regrouping with Battle Time after a reversal of fortune last time out at Trentham.
The Cambridge trainers produced the four-year-old for an all the way win in last month’s Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile before he faded out of contention in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes after being taken on in front.
“He got taken on by Julinsky Prince a bit and when that winner (Aide Memoire) came up he just didn’t kick and got unbalanced. It was another learning curve for the horse and the trainers.
“He’s as good as gold and straight after the race he was eating and since he’s come home he hasn’t left an oat.“We’ll set him for the Rich Hill Mile and that will be back to handicap and he’ll still get in quite well.”
The stable could be in line for a change of luck in the meantime with Autumn Wind looking a strong chance on Wednesday in the opening event at Ellerslie, the Barfoot & Thompson 2200.The Roc de Cambes four-year-old has improved with each of his three outings and he got home strongly for second last time out at Te Aroha after he was blocked for room in the straight.
“I bought him off Trademe as a weanling and when he arrived you’d swear he was a trotter and not a galloper,” Cater said.“He kept growing and growing, he’s a big horse but he wouldn’t have to improve much on his last run.”
They will also be represented by Shine On (Ezgo Cart Rentals 1600) and I’m Paco (Cardinal Logistics 1600) at Ellerslie.“Shine On’s only just starting out, but he’s got a lot of ability and I’m Paco has got a couple more wins in him,” Carter said.