Bergerson to get line on spring prospect Tie Me Down at Hawera

8 October 2015

Roydon Bergerson will get a guide to his spring prospects at Hawera on Saturday.

The Awapuni trainer, who had a memorable 2014-15 season, will have five runners – Tie Me Down, Figurac, Postboy, Hank Moody and Allstars – at the feature meeting.

Figurac, Tie Me Down and Hank Moody are resuming and Postboy has had only one run this season.

Tie Me Down has won five of her eight starts and is expected to be competitive in the Gr.3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

The Pins mare did not begin racing till she was a late three-year-old and should be at her peak this term. She has also had a bone chip removed from a fetlock joint since she last raced.

“She looks amazing and has really strengthened now,” Bergerson said. “She trialled really well [at Otaki on September 29] and her work has been good.

“She should run well [at Hawera] but as long as she’s hitting the line strongly, we will be happy.”

However, Bergerson would have preferred Tie Me Down to have drawn further out than two.

“She doesn’t like being bottled up on the inside and is not a sit and sprint horse.

“She needs to get out and get rolling and I would rather see her in the three-wide line than in behind the leaders.”

Tie Me Down won the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes last term and a good effort on Saturday would probably seal a run in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Trentham a fortnight later.

The Windsor Park has replaced the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), a race that had always been on Tie Me Down’s programme.

Tie Me Down and Figurac have also been nominated for the Gr.2 Coupland’s Mile at Riccarton next month.

Figurac, who resumes in the rating 75 1200m at Hawera, won three races as a three-year-old and has not finished further back than fourth.

“I think he will prove to be up to Group company,” Bergerson said.

“He likes to compete and tries really hard. He has had two quiet trials and is going really well.”

However, Figurac would need to win this weekend to have any chance of making the Coupland’s field.

Postboy had three wins and four seconds from nine attempts last term but disappointed when making his open class debut on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival.

He has been freshened since and comes back to rating 75 company on Saturday.

“He’s bright and his work has been OK,” Bergerson said. – NZ Racing Desk

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