Riviera Rebel seeking to defend Canterbury Gold Cup crown
Southland gelding Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) will be out to defend his crown in the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
The Pure Champion gelding has arrived in Christchurch ahead of the ANZAC Day feature, and co-trainer and part-owner Graham Eade said he is well accustomed to the long trip and Riccarton has become a second home for the five-year-old.
“It (travel) doesn’t worry him, they give us a big yard and when we put him out there he acts like he is at home,” said Eade, who trains in partnership with his granddaughter Brooke Kincaid.
“He ate up last night and I took him for a walk this morning and I think I got more out of it than he did, he’s very well.”
Eade welcomed the rain in the Garden City earlier this week, citing Riviera Rebel’s dislike for firm tracks, which he was met with in his last trip to Christchurch when 11th in the Hororata Gold Cup (1800m) last month.
“He doesn’t like hard tracks and he jarred up quite bad when we started him up here last time,” Eade said. “They have had some rain, they had 17ml on Wednesday, so I think it will be a nice track and it should suit him.”
Riviera Rebel had a confidence-boosting runner-up result in the Riverton Cup (2147m) earlier this month, and while Eade believes he faces a stiffer task in this year’s running of the Canterbury Gold Cup, he said he is a more mature horse.
“I think it is a bit harder this year, I think it is a better field,” Eade said. “But he has grown up a bit, he has got more settled with age.”
Riviera Rebel has drawn the ace barrier for Saturday, which Eade said will be ideal, and he will be ridden by Krishna Mudhoo.
“He likes the rail and he always jumps well,” Eade said.
Following Saturday, Eade is contemplating crossing the Cook Strait to further Riviera Rebel’s preparation.
“There’s not a lot about unless we look at a programme up north,” he said. “I have got one or two friends that train up there and it wouldn’t be a hassle if we had to send him up.”
