3 minute read
Black type performer Faraway Eyes won’t know the company she’s keeping at Dargaville on Friday.
The six-year-old will drop significantly back in grade for the Adams Trimmer Nauman Insurance Northland Cup (1800m), in which she will run beyond a mile for the first time.
“She’s by Ustinov out of an O’Reilly mare so I think she can get the trip if she’s held up – she’s got a nice turn of foot at the end of her races,” trainer Michael Lawlor said.Faraway Eyes won a Rating 85 event 17 months ago and since then she has raced exclusively in the top grade for a runner-up finish in the Tauranga Classic, as well as six other placings in open handicaps.
To be ridden by three kilo claimer Brendan Hutton, she has weighed in twice from her last four appearances and Lawlor said she was in good order for Dargaville.“She’s been working on the beach and she is much improved. She’s pretty well and I would be happy if the rain arrives as well.
“She’s been a good mare – I only paid $1500 for her at Karaka and she’s not far short of earning $100,000 now.”The topweight Old Drumble looks one of the hardest to beat after his win at Ellerslie two runs back that was followed up with a solid fourth at Auckland.
The Shackler isn’t an easy horse to follow, but he is capable if allowed his own terms in front while Classcoroc’s last-start fourth in an open handicap at Te Rapa is a handy form pointer to her chances in this line-up.