Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-prepared Riverplate took the 1800m of the Roderick Bowman Handicap in his stride under a heady-ride from Damien Oliver at Sandown on Saturday.
The four-year-old has now won three of his past four outings since being gelded mid last year.
“The ride was ten out of ten. There was a question mark as to whether he would get the 1800m but on that he should have no problems getting a mile and a quarter or even further,” stable representative Brendon Hawtin said.
“His runs this time in have been first class. Andrew Campbell back home (in New Zealand) has always had faith in this horse and now he is starting to pay dividends. Well done to him and it’s great for the ownership group – Tommy Heptinstall and the crew.
“He is just hitting his straps now. He is in a rating band now where there are a lot of options and good prizemoney, so he is certainly on his way to getting a few more wins hopefully.”
A son of Flying Artie, Riverplate was sold as a weanling through Curraghmore's May Sale draft before being knocked down to his original trainer Andrew Campbell out of Leanach Lodge’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 yearling draft, with Campbell, who these days is focused on a bloodstock career, sharing in the ownership of the progressive galloper. -NZ Racing Desk
