Alottago thriving ahead of Manawatu Classic
Southern raider Alottago (Tagaloa) ran home well to finish third in his North Island debut in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) at Trentham last Saturday, and trainer Lance Robinson is looking forward to stepping him up over further ground this weekend.
The son of Tagaloa has been a model of consistency for Robinson, winning two and placing in five of his 10 starts to date, including placings in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m), Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) and Wellington Guineas.
While he has yet to be tested over further than a mile, Robinson has always thought he would thrive over more ground, and he is looking forward to giving his gelding that opportunity at Trentham on Saturday in the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m), where he has drawn barrier two and will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell.
“He put his hand up the other day and he could be looking for a wee bit further too, which we have always thought,” Robinson said. “He gets his chance on Saturday so it will be interesting.
“It is his first run over distance, so I was pleased that he got an inside gate, so he might get a nice bit of cover.
“He has come through his race the other day really well. We left him up there, he is at Buddy Lammas’ at Otaki. He has done really well since the race, he worked well this morning, and Buddy is really happy with him.”
Alottago is currently a $3.90 second favourite for the Manawatu Classic behind Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) placegetter Geneva (NZ) (Time Test) at $3.40.
Win, lose or draw, Robinson said Alottago will go out for a well-deserved spell after Saturday.
“He will go to the paddock as soon as he gets home,” Robinson said.
Meanwhile, Robinson is excited about the future with recent stable addition Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon).
The Written Tycoon gelding won two and placed in two of his 11 starts in Australia for trainer Gary Portelli and also ran fourth in the Gr.3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) before being offered on Inglis Digital in December where he was purchased by harness racing legend Barry Purdon, and his wife Katrina, for A$70,000.
The Auckland couple entrusted the four-year-old to the care of Robinson with the view of competing over New Zealand Cup Week, and the Canterbury horseman has been impressed by the gelding.
He was runner-up first-up over 1200m at Riccarton earlier this month before carrying Purdon’s famous silks to victory over the same distance at the Christchurch track last Saturday.
“He was very impressive, he won really well,” Robinson said. “He is a horse that could really be going places, he is a lovely animal.”
Iron Hawk will likely have two more runs before heading to the spelling paddock in preparation for the spring, with his final assignment possibly being the Listed Daphne Bannam Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on ANZAC Day.
“He will run in a (rating) 75 1400m here (Riccarton) in a fortnight and then maybe the Easter, but we will assess that after his next run, and then he will have a break and we will get him back up for the cup meeting,” Robinson said.
