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Red Ripper will be given his opportunity in Group company following his front-running victory in Saturday’s Kumara Gold Nuggets.
The genuine six-year-old was an emphatic winner of the Vernon & Vazey-sponsored West Coast feature for travel happy trainers Ken and Lisa Rae, who will now press ahead with plans to run the gelding in the Gr.2 Platinum Homes Wellington Cup.
“I don’t know if he’s good enough, but he deserves his chance,” Ken Rae said. “He hasn’t got the best conformation, but he is tough.”Although trained at Ruakaka, Red Ripper has done the bulk of his racing in the South Island with his five previous wins posted at Riccarton (twice), Greymouth, Omakau and Timaru.
Placed at the New Zealand Cup carnival two runs back, the son of Drama Critic was six weeks between runs when he was narrowly beaten in the Waikouaiti Cup and he showed the benefit of that lead-up outing on Saturday.Well-rated at the head of affairs by Jamie Bates, Red Ripper was clear at the top of the straight and he held a strong gallop to win by two and a-quarter lengths.
“He’s a crowd favourite and it’s quite emotional – I love riding for Kenny,” Bates said. “He’s a tough horse and loves to roll along.”Red Ripper, whose stablemate Fille Du Roi won a Rating 65 event earlier in the day under Bates, is currently rated a $26 chance for the Wellington Cup.
Veteran performer El Chico was given a sweet run behind the leader by Chris Johnson and fought on gallantly for second with the third-placed Duffers Creek the best of three runners for Kevin Myers.