La Crique’s spring preparation is over.
The Group One-winning mare was set to cross the Tasman for a two-race Australian campaign, however, those plans have been foiled by feet issues following her third placing in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) earlier this month.
“After Matamata we did a full vetting on the horse with the mindset of sending her to Australia. We just wanted to make sure everything was all good with her before we sent her over,” said Katrina Alexander, who trains in partnership with her husband Simon.
“She has some bruising in her off fore foot and that has turned into something that is quite a niggle for her.
“She has gone to the paddock today where she will be closer to the farrier that does the work on her.
“Hopefully we can get that right sooner rather than later.
“With all things feet, they can be trouble in disguise in a big way and we are hoping that is not the case in this instance.
“We will just have to regroup and look forward to later in the season with her, but she won’t be going to Australia in the immediate future.”
While an Australian spring campaign has been ruled out, Alexander is eager to get La Crique over the Tasman in the autumn.
“Once we have got this right with her, and we are happy with her, she could quite possibly go over and do her preparation there,” she said.
“I think I will do everyone else a favour and leave the country with her and they might get a nice autumn. We seem to be the rainmaker wherever we go with her.
“I think the horse warrants to go around in decent company over there.
“We will get her right and send a fresh set of legs over and hopefully we can find some nice races for her.”
Meanwhile, Alexander is hoping for better luck with stablemate Elldecree when she heads to Tauranga on Wednesday for the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1600m).
“I am really happy with the horse. I am pleased that I gave her that trial at Matamata the other day,” Alexander said.
“There was just nothing for her race-wise and she is a mare we want to get up over ground, and we also need a decent track.
“A few factors have prevented her putting races together in a timeframe I am happy with. Bridget (Grylls) will keep the ride for tomorrow, she knows the horse well. I am looking forward to her running.
“She is a really big mare and she has always been a big horse. She is only really now maturing into her frame. We have taken her along quietly to get her to where she physically looks like she should be racing. It all seems to be falling into place for her now, she is a lot stronger and mentally knows her job a lot better. I am very happy with how she is progressing.”
Stablemate Anela will be the stable’s other runner this week when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday for the Te Rapa Event Centre 1400.
“We have worked out that left-handed racing is her thing,” Alexander said.
“She is not an easy horse to train or ride on raceday.
“There have been no 65 miles around for her on a left-handed track, so we are just dropping her back to the 1400m, hoping she will get cover again like she did at Taupo. Once she gets cover, she relaxes well.”