Trish Dunell
While Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker were delighted with Volpe Veloce’s win in the Gr.2 Japan NZ International Trophy (1600m), they were less thrilled with the performance of stablemate Tiptronic.
The Group One performer finished towards the tail of the field and his connections were concerned about their runner after the race.
“Nothing went right for him. He was three-wide and sometimes he was four-wide and just over-raced a little bit,” Richardson said.
“He had a very hard run. I was a bit worried about the horse, I went running down to see if he was okay. His action up the straight didn’t look that good, but he’s as good as gold.”
The son of O’Reilly will now head towards the Gr.2 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie next month and Richardson said his charge should appreciate a return to his favourite track.
“I’m going to save him for the Easter,” he said. “He’s better right-handed. Most of his best achievements have been right-handed and he loves Ellerslie.
“I was contemplating the mile and a quarter (Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup) down at Awapuni this weekend. But he’s had a hard run and left a bit of tucker, so he won’t be going there.”