Miss Oahu scores on her favourite track at Hastings. She returns there on Tuesday.
Good footing on favourite track will help Miss Oahu at Hastings on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 30 December 2018
Back to her favourite Hastings track and on better footing, Miss Oahu looks a solid chance to run in the money on New Year’s Day.
The Pins mare will be Lincoln Farms’ sole runner on Tuesday and faces only seven rivals in the third race.
Topweight with 59kg, she will be giving weight to them all - a rider shortage sees five of them with claiming apprentices on - but trainer Lisa Latta expects her to be right in the finish.
“The track was in the slow range when she failed at Awapuni last time and she needs it much better than that.’’
Miss Oahu was given a dream trip in the trail that day by rider Rosie Myers but found nothing in the run home, in complete contrast to her fresh-up third at Awapuni when she finished on well behind Brimm and All In Mana, a winner at his next start.
“We know she always saves her best races for Hastings as well so she has to be at least a solid place chance.’’
Miss Oahu won at Hastings in March and has also run a second and third on the course. Her two more recent failures there were on very wet tracks.
Latta says while Miss Oahu has drawn one from the outside she hopes rider Bridget Grylls can get a nice sit just in behind the speed.
Safely through Tuesday, Miss Oahu will head to Trentham for a $40,000 race on Wellington Cup day, January 19.
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Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Trentham
Race 2: Platinum Tyche
1.05pm
“This is a big drop-back in class for her as her last two races have been very strong rating 75s. The track at Otaki was particularly wet and she just didn’t handle it. She has come through that run in fantastic order and is very bright and well. She shouldn’t be too far off the leaders from the good draw and I expect her to bounce back to form providing we get a decent track.”
Race 8: Platinum Attack
4.43pm
“He drew the outside barrier in this race last year and has been dealt the same card again. He couldn’t be looking any better though and his work has been phenomenal. He is right where he needs to be to win a race like this. We are going to need some luck from the draw but Craig Grylls knows him well now and I thought that he is certainly one of the better horses in the race. If he gets clear air at the right time then he will finish with a big run.”