The race has begun to qualify for the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui in March, and local trainers Brian and Shane Anderton are keen to once again be in the mix.
The father-and-son duo took out this year’s edition of the race with their stakes winner Burgie and they are keen to chase the big prizemoney on offer with a number of their runners this season.
“We were lucky enough to win it last season. It was only the first heat the other day so we will try and get a few qualified. It is a good incentive, so it is well worth having a crack at,” Shane Anderton said.
“We have run three so far (in the first two heats), we have got a bit more time yet (to qualify), so we will just see how we go.”
Stablemates Bauble and Country Boy will attempt to gain a spot in the final when they contest the third heat of the series over a mile at Riverton on New Year’s Day.
The pair contested the second heat of the series at Wingatui on Boxing Day but were tripped up by the unseasonable Heavy10 track conditions, finishing ninth and 11th respectively behind winner Sistena.
The Andertons are hoping for improved track conditions, with the track rated a Soft5 on Friday morning and rain forecast in the lead-up to Monday’s meeting.
“Bauble was a wee bit disappointing the other day, I don’t know if that wet track might have just pulled him up a bit. He was in pretty good form before that (placing in his four previous outings),” Anderton said.
“Country Boy was a bit disappointing the other day too. He hasn’t had a lot of form on heavy ground before that, so hopefully the weather holds off.
“Going from a Good3 to a Heavy10 tripped a few of them up the other day, so we will see what happens.”
Stablemate Inflamed put in a better showing for fifth in the opening heat of the series behind the Danny Crozier-trained Corista and collected five points for the series to put her in a good position to qualify for the final.
The Andertons will bring more ODT Southern Mile series flavour to Riverton earlier on the card when this year’s Final victor Burgie and runner-up Mayor Of Norwood contest the Carriers Arms Hotel Summer Cup (2147m).
Burgie has been lumbered with topweight of 60.5kg, while Mayor Of Norwood has the second highest impost at 57.5kg, however, the Andertons have secured the services of four-kilogram claiming apprentice jockeys Kevin Rathoar and Ruvanesh Muniandy to help ease their load.
“We have got an allowance off both of them,” Anderton said. “Burgie is up in the weights but she ran a good race at Invercargill the other day. It is hard to pick up ground there late. If she gets a decent run, she will be competitive.
“Mayor Of Norwood ran all the sectionals the other day. It was a slow run race, they cantered around and sprinted home. He was probably four or five lengths in front about 10 strides after the post, so if things go right he should be competitive as well.”
The Andertons are also looking forward to Ghibellines filly Central Gold making her debut in the Doug Horrell Contracting/Otautau Food Centre (1200m).
“She has had a couple of jump outs and is going along alright,” Anderton said. “She will learn a lot from the outing but she has pleased me with what she has done so far.”
Rounding out the stable’s representation at Riverton will be Bowler in the Ricki Egerton Daggin/Grant Horrel Contracting (1600m).
“Bowler has been racing fairly well and is due to get one soon with a bit of luck,” Anderton said.