Trainer Bryce Newman has one eye on the weather forecast for the weekend as he looks to bring his consistent mare Love For All north from her Bulls base to tackle the Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The five-year-old daughter of Love Conquers All has a noted aversion to wet tracks which have cropped up at all the wrong times during her latest campaign.
Newman has been keen to get the five-race winner out to 2000m during this preparation and got his wish at her last start where she went a bold race to finish third behind Aromatic in the Group 3 Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (2000m).
He will be looking for a measure of revenge for that result with the Mark Walker-trained Aromatic likely to be one of Love For All's main rivals again on Saturday.
“It would be nice to turn the tables on Aromatic this time around, but in the end, we want to see our girl get the surface she needs and a little luck which we haven't really got too many times lately,” Newman said.
“We have been waiting for these races to come along as she has the ability to be right in it, but wet tracks and some bad luck have hindered her this prep.
“As long as the rains stays away for Saturday, I think she is a good chance based on her last run.”
Newman confirmed he had booked Ryan Elliot to ride the mare on Saturday and was pleased with her work.
“She worked really well on Tuesday and with Ryan aboard she will get every chance,” he said.
The multiple Group-placed mare has drawn barrier 12 in a 13-horse field.
“She loves to race on the speed and hopefully we can do that again, but if she had to take a sit, she is versatile enough to be able to do that,” Newman said.
“Earlier in her career she excelled over the shorter distances but I've always believed she would get up to a middle distance.
“We actually were looking at the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) in her three-year-old season but it just came around a little quick for her.”
Newman, who is part of the Shadow Syndicate that races the mare, is also keen to add further black-type to her record before she heads to the matrons paddock at the end of her career.
“Paul Beamish bought her for us for just $18,000 out of one of those Gold Coast yearling sales and she has gone on and won over $116,000, so we have had heaps of fun with our little syndicate,” Newman said.
“As small-time breeders we are always looking for black-type with these mares so if we can get some more with her this weekend then we will all be over the moon.”