Trish Dunell
Jamie Richards is hoping In A Twinkling will show his star quality at Hastings on Saturday.
The son of Fastnet Rock was slightly disappointing when finishing seventh first-up over 1400m at Ruakaka last month, but Richards is expecting a better showing when he lines-up in the Fasttrack Insurance 2000.
“I thought his first-up run was okay,” he said. “He got caught three deep with no cover and I just don’t think he is as good right-handed as what he is left-handed.
“I know that sounds a little bit silly because he ran second in the New Zealand Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m), and ran well in Australia going right-handed. But I am looking forward to getting the horse back left-handed and up over a bit of a trip.”
In A Twinkling holds nominations for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Richards said the gelding will need to perform well on Saturday to warrant a trip across the Tasman.
“We would like to give him the opportunity to go to Melbourne. We couldn’t really go to Melbourne off the back of that Ruakaka run, so we decided to head towards the Open 2000m.
“He is nominated for all of the big staying races. We are under no illusions as to how difficult it is, but there is still some nice prizemoney to be won in the second tier staying races and even the third tier. So we have got a few options with him.
“I would be disappointed if he didn’t run well. He is a proven stayer as a three-year-old.
“He needs to take that next step up against the older horses. He is just in a bit of a tricky spot in the ratings, he has only won one race, but he finds himself in an open handicap with 57kg, so he has got to do it the hard way unfortunately.”
Bred by Caradale Pty Ltd, In A Twinkling was purchased by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis out of Curraghmore's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier draft. -NZ Racing Desk
