Rain won’t dampen Richardson’s parade

10 April 2015

Graham Richardson won’t be disappointed if there is a further easing of the ground at Tauranga.

The Matamata trainer said his talented mare Queens Rose was in the right order to make her presence felt in Saturday’s BDO-Tauranga-Exceptional Client Service 1200, provided she got her favourite conditions.

“She needs rain – earlier in her career she won on good ground, but she’s older now and she hates hard tracks.”

Queens Rose boasts a tidy record of six wins and three placings from 16 appearances and her most recent resuming run for a close fifth behind Antonio Lombardo last month pleased Richardson.

Vinnie Colgan will ride the five-year-old and he will also be aboard stablemate Purcentage in the Pacific Coast Technical Institute 1200.

A debut winner last season, the three-year-old has twice placed at black type level in her short career.

“She was a little disappointing in her last run, but it was too firm for her,” Richardson said.

The third member of the team at Tauranga is the capable stayer Dubai Shuffle, who will step out in the Barrett Homes-Making Things Happen 2100.

He finished runner-up last time out on the course and has performed well in stronger company.

“He’s had some rotten luck and should have run a lot closer in the Wellington Cup,” Richardson said. “No way would he have beaten the winner or run second, but he could have finished third.

“He will probably head toward Hastings for either the Rating 75 over 2500 metres or I might put a cheeky nom in for the Hawke’s Bay Cup.” – NZ Racing Desk.

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