Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock is hoping to make another successful Central Districts raid with two strong chances at Waverley on Wednesday.
He will be represented by the in-form Footloose in the Equivets NZ – SRVS Handicap (1400m) while Badgeringdawitness will relish the rise in distance in the Roper Agriculture Handicap (1600m).
Lock produced one of the star performers on the Hawera undercard last Saturday when Debit returned from a lengthy spell to thump her Rating 65 rivals over 1200m.
The daughter of Darci Brahma was making her first appearance for 16 months and now has a brace of victories and a placing from three appearances.
“She’s a mare we’ve held in high regard for a long time, but she’s had a few niggly issues that have all been solved now,” Lock said.
“She’s gone shin sore and one thing and another, so she’s just needed time.
“She’s still a little bit green and ran around when she got to the front the other day and Courtney (Barnes) said she’s got a bit to learn so it’s all pretty promising.”
Debit has a liking for rain-affected going and Lock may give her another run with conditions to suit before a break.
“She won’t do a lot more this time, she likes the wet tracks and we’ll still get a bit of wet ground between now and Christmas so we’ll keep an eye on that and it will tell us where we go,” he said.
In the short term, Lock’s focus is on his trip to Waverley and rates both his runners as top prospects.
“I think both of them should go pretty well, they are lovely horses,” he said.
Badgeringdawitness, bred and raced by Gee Gee Equine and Ron Duke, was a second-up winner at Hawera two runs back and the Reliable Man gelding then finished off the pace after jumping awkwardly over 1340m at Wanganui.
“It was too short for him the other day and up to a mile will suit him so he’s a really nice chance,” Lock said.
Apprentice Elle Sole will again be aboard Badgeringdawitness while Toni Davies will continue her association with Turn Me Loose’s son Footloose.
“He’s going super and he got home like a rocket last time out, so he’s only got to go as well again to be a big chance,” Lock said.
Raced by breeders Llanhennock Trust, Footloose followed up his Hawera victory two runs back with a late charge to finish fourth at Wanganui.
“I like both horses and their owners have been very loyal, so I hope they go really well for them,” Lock said.