Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson is hoping Live Drama can end her season on a winning note when she heads to her home track on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).
The six-year-old daughter of Ghibellines has been in fine form of late, finishing runner-up in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) and Listed White Robe Lodge (1600m) before winning the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton last month.
Robinson has been pleased with her progress since her last start heroics, but he holds concerns over the 2000m distance, with the mare having only contested up to a mile previously.
“She has done everything right, we are really happy with her,” he said.
“Stepping up to the 2000m this week is a bit of an unknown, but we are just going to give her the opportunity and see how she manages it.
“I am also a bit worried with the weather, but as long as the track stays reasonable, we will give it a crack.”
While the Canterbury Gold Cup will be Live Drama’s last of the season, Robinson said it could very well be the last of her racing career, with the broodmare paddock beckoning the nine-race winner.
“She is getting to the age where we have got to start making some decisions about whether we race her again next season or she goes to the stud in the spring. That will be up to the owners,” Robinson said.
“We will have a think about it over winter and decide what to do in the spring.”
Live Drama will be joined in her race by stablemate Tavi With Me.
“She is in the weight-for-age and is probably a bit outclassed in that,” Robinson said.
“The owner is dead keen to run to try and get some black-type with her. She does handle really heavy ground, so we are just hoping that she cops it and the others battle a bit.”
On the undercard, Robinson is looking forward to lining up last start South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes placegetter Avaquinella in the Ardrossan At Waikato Stud Handicap (1200m).
“I decided she is going to run in the Easter Stakes (Listed, 1400m) in a fortnight,” Robinson said.
“She has done really well and she is a big, gross mare so I thought we will run in the sprint on Saturday as it is on our back doorstep.”