Trainer Jo-Ann Gordon is prepared to give Sutherland the benefit of the doubt for his last start defeat and hoping home track advantage and testing underfoot conditions on Sunday can see the mercurial character back to his best.
Previously a multiple Guineas winner in New Zealand as a three-year-old, Palmetto broke through for a first Australian victory in Saturday’s A$150,000 Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 88 Handicap (1500m) at Hawkesbury.
A change of tack with Inflamed could reap dividends at Riccarton on Saturday when the filly lines-up in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes.
Exciting first-season apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland is hoping she can add one major achievement to her riding CV when she heads to Riccarton this weekend.
Specialty returned to winning ways at Wingatui on Saturday with a dominant performance in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) to revive future Group One hopes.
Progressive filly Goldie’s Chance kept her connections happy when landing the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m) on Saturday for trainer Ross Beckett.
