Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards will line-up juveniles Folk Dress and Louis Luck in the Listed Waikato Equine Vet Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Richards had earmarked the race for both horses after Folk Dress recorded her second win from four starts with an emphatic performance over 1000m at Matamata on April 17, and Louis Luck finished strongly for fifth in the same race.
Richards is pleased with his runners heading into Saturday and is expecting a bold showing from the pair.
“Louis Luck has drawn well in barrier three and shapes to get a good trip,” he said.
“His work has been good and without a trial he was always going to improve off his first-up run. He made good steady ground fresh-up at Matamata, and he’s a fair horse. He’s got a tendency to do a few things wrong, but he could improve quickly.
“Folk Dress has drawn a bit awkwardly (barrier eight), but we have been riding her for cover so we won’t rush too much early and the likelihood of a competitive pace should suit her finishing off.
“Whiskey Neat obviously looks hard to beat. He’s got very good form from earlier in the season, but only had one quiet trial and it’s going to be an interesting race.
“I quite like our two. They’re both nice horses, ran well at Matamata, have been set for this race and worked well leading into it. They’ve each had an ideal prep.”