Robinson hoping to repeat history in Dunedin Guineas
Lance Robinson won the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m) seven years ago with Air Max (NZ) (Nadeem) and he believes he has the right horse to double his tally in the race when he heads to Wingatui on Saturday.
The Riccarton trainer will head south with his Group Three performer Alottago (NZ) (Tagaloa), who like many of his counterparts has had an interrupted preparation due to the abandonment of the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) earlier this month.
The son of Tagaloa subsequently had his first-up run at Ashburton last week, where he finished fifth over 1200m, and Robinson has been pleased with his progress heading into the Dunedin Guineas.
“That’s just the name of the game (Gore Guineas abandonment),” Robinson said. “He missed that run so we had to go to Plan B and go to that 1200m race the other day, which wasn’t really ideal, but we had to go somewhere to get a run into him.
“He has done everything right since his run the other day. He had a bit of a run along this (Thursday) morning and his work was excellent. He is right up to the mark.”
Alottago will jump from barrier 14 and will be ridden by northern hoop Joe Doyle, who is still riding the high of winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) aboard Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) last weekend.
“I am not too worried about the barrier,” Robinson said. “He can get a bit of room out there and Joe is a good rider, and he will get him a bit of cover and he can make his own plans from out there. I would rather be out there with a little bit of room than cladded up on the fence behind slow horses.”
TAB bookmakers share Robinson’s optimism, installing Alottago a $4.50 favourite for the Guineas ahead of Luna Capella (NZ) (Tivaci) and Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) at $5.50.
Alottago will be joined on the float trip south by stablemate Eight Pence (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who will be chasing the $200,000 purse on offer in the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m).
The Swiss Ace gelding has won three of his last five starts, including over a mile last week at Ashburton, and will jump from barrier five, with apprentice jockey Kendra Bakker’s two-kilogram claim bringing his impost down to 54kg.
“He has done nothing wrong, he just keeps stepping up,” Robinson said. “He deserves a crack at the race.
“He has done well since Ashburton and I am really happy with him. He is only going to be carrying 54 kilos and he races up on speed a bit, so he will get his chance.
“I am sure he will be very competitive. They will know he is there.”
Local hope Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) heads the TAB’s market for the Southern Mile Final at $4, with Eight Pence labelled a $10 winning hope.
