Blinkers key to Loch Katrine’s Otaki chances
Words of advice from one of the country’s leading riders may have a winning outcome for Daniel Miller at Otaki on Thursday.
The Matamata trainer will be represented in the Canton Fair Tours Handicap (1600m) by Loch Katrine (NZ) (Ardrossan), who is expected to give another strong account of herself with the addition of headgear.
The change was made on the suggestion of former champion jockey Michael McNab after the Ardrossan mare finished fifth two starts ago.
“Michael has obviously ridden her quite a lot and he thought at Tauranga that she loomed up to win and then had a bit of a look around, so he said to put the blinkers on and it seems to have done the trick,” Miller said.
“It was a good run last start with them on for the first time and she gets in with a very light weight which will help, she’s only small and should run well.”
Loch Katrine finished third at New Plymouth behind the highly rated Jungle Love in the hands of Floor Moerman, whose one kilo claim will reduce the five-year-old’s weight to 53kg.
“She made up a lot of ground at Taranaki that day, which wasn’t easy to do and she’s done well since,” Miller said.
Loch Katrine will also be suited by the heavy going with all three of her victories, including success in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m), posted on wet ground.
Stablemate Semra will also make the trip south for a crack at the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).
She will be partnered by Niranjan Parmar, who guided the filly into a recent runner-up finish at the Te Awamutu trials.
Semra will be resuming from a break after running fifth in her autumn debut at Te Rapa.
“That was a pass mark and Warren (Kennedy) was pretty happy with the horse, he said she would be better next time in,” Miller said.
“This is a great opportunity for her to maybe get a bit of black type, and I think she’s a top four chance.”
Also by Ardrossan, there had been buyer interest in Semra before she had her first outing only for the deal to fall through.
“She was originally a trade horse and won a trial nicely and had her sold but she failed the vet, so she’s racing on,” Miller said.
