15 Oct 2017
Otaki trainer Rachel Frost was the toast of punters at Hawera on Saturday after lightly raced Tavistock five-year-old Travimyfriend scored in impressive fashion over 1400m.
Sent out at prohibitive odds after some inspired betting support prior to the Rating 85 contest, Travimyfriend didn’t disappoint as he cruised home by a neat half-length at just his second run in his current campaign.
The powerhouse Tavistock gelding cuts an imposing figure on the track with Frost admitting he isn’t the easiest individual to handle through his tough-minded attitude.
“He’s a good horse but he hadn’t raced for a month so we couldn’t be that certain on how he would go,” she said.
“He just over-raced a little as there wasn’t much pace on. He’s pretty tough though as he has a few problems but he overcomes them through bravery. He can be a bit of a handful at home but if you want to do anything with him you have to jump him as he just loves it.”
Frost is in two minds with respect to the immediate program for her charge as she weighs up the option to step him up to a 1600m.
“He’s in the Coupland’s Mile but he will probably go to Trentham in a fortnight first,” she said.
“I’m just a bit windy about the mile at Riccarton for the Coupland’s as he might pull too hard so we might have to get a run in over a mile before then.
“I’m not sure whether we will tackle the Thompson Handicap at Trentham as I will make my mind up when I see how he pulls up from this one. He does appreciate a bit of easing in the ground so we will just play it by ear at this stage.”
The Gr. 3 Anuka Smoker Thompson Handicap is the feature event at Trentham on 28 October with the Gr. 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile run at Riccarton on 15 November. – NZ Racing Desk