Delayed ferry sailing disrupts Riccarton plans but Rapper still on song for Winter Cup

Platinum Rapper looks like being the sole starter for Lincoln Farms at Riccarton on Saturday after continued delays to the ferries crossing Cook Strait.

The Winter Cup aspirant was to have made the sailing with Lincoln Star and Father Lenihan on Wednesday night but the boat only got underway this morning.

And that saw trainer Lisa Latta pull the pin on Lincoln Star’s trip and in all likelihood delay a start for Father Lenihan until the second day of the meeting on Wednesday.

“A seasoned traveller like Platinum Raider will be okay but it would have been Lincoln Star’s first trip away and, with no time to settle in, he wouldn’t handle it.

“I’m humming and haa-ing about whether to line up Father Lenihan as it’s been five weeks in between runs for him and over 1800 metres, in the last race of the day, the ground will be very testing. I’m not convinced he’s a real heavy tracker anyway.

“We’ll see how he travels but it’s more likely I’ll reserve him for Wednesday.”

Trainer Lisa Latta … Platinum Rapper can handle the late arrival in Christchurch.Platinum Rapper will take her place in the $100,000 Winter Cup after getting the last ticket into the race but Latta says realistically she’s 12 months away from being competitive in such a tough race.

“She’s had a couple of trips away and been to Christchurch before so I’m not too worried about the late arrival with her.

“But there are a lot of good, seasoned horses in the race and when you go back over the list of Winter Cup winners they’re generally older horses. You don’t see many younger horses winning races like this. You’ve got to remember she’s only just turned four.’’

That aside, Latta says Platinum Rapper will be suited by the return to 1600 metres and the very wet track, conditions she has revelled in before.

And you have to forgive Platinum Rapper for her below par seventh in the Opunake Cup at New Plymouth last start when she made ground late but rider Robbie Hannam reported the filly held her breath.

“That’s the first time she’s done it but it can happen sometimes with horses when they get out of their comfort zone.

“I’ve put a tongue tie on her and she’s worked well in it.”

Latta says the very wide gate Platinum Rapper starts from shouldn’t be a problem as she gets back in her races anyway and it means she will be able to get out into clear air when needed.

While on the minimum of 53kg, so are the majority of the field with the compressed weights, meaning she has no real advantage in the handicaps.

But Platinum Rapper has already shown weight is no issue - she pushed Dolcetto and Rosewood to a long neck and a nose in the Challenge Stakes at weight-for-age at Wanganui in June on a very deep track.

On Saturday Rosewood is a clear favourite at $4.20 while Platinum Rapper is paying $19 on fixed odds.