A change of tack with Inflamed could reap dividends at Riccarton on Saturday when the filly lines-up in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m).
The daughter of Ghibellines was set to head to the spelling paddock following her unplaced run in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) in February, however, trainers Brian and Shane Anderton elected to keep her in work and she rewarded them with a win over 1600m at Riverton earlier this month.
“We were really thrilled about her last win,” Brian Anderton said.
“After her run in the Southland Guineas we were going to turn her out but then Shane and I had a discussion and she had virtually had no racing so we thought we would try and freshen her up.
“That's the reason why we didn't run at Christchurch on Saturday because we didn't want to back her up within a week. We went to Riverton instead and that gave her a fortnight between runs.
“She went well and won well, so we are very pleased with her.”
“The draw (15) is a bit against her, but you can't have it all your own way.”
The Wingatui stable will have a strong hand in the meeting's other feature, the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), where they will be represented by Exchange, Capo Dell Impero, and Burgie.
Capo Dell Impero will back-up after his 2.75 length win in the Founders Cup (2000m) at Riccarton last Saturday, with Anderton citing the $100,000 purse as the major drawcard.
“Capo seems to have come through his run well,” he said.
“We weren't going to run but the $100,000 changed our mind.
“Being weight-for-age it is getting impossible to place horses in New Zealand. You get five or six wins and then you look at going overseas with them.
“He got five points for his win the other day and that has put him in a dangerous place for a horse that has only had five wins.
“We have got to give it a go though for that kind of stake money.”
Anderton has also been pleased with the form of his two other runners.
“Burgie and Exchange are as good as we can get them. It is going to be a nice race,” he said.
“Burgie has done a treat and I am very happy with her. That was a good run last start (runner-up in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m).”