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Deane Martin is on the verge of adding to his staying record, according to stable foreman Allan Peard.
“His last two runs have been solid and without any luck,” he said. “He’s knocking on the door for a big one.”
The Brue Wallace-trained six-year-old will get his chance at Te Rapa on Saturday when he runs in the Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup.Deane Martin was unplaced last time out in the Gr.3 Counties Cup at Avondale where he copped a chequered run and finished off well in the closing 100 metres once into the clear.
“He should have finished a lot closer,” Peard said. “We’re very happy with him and he keeps improving. The weight (59kg) is the only problem, he’s badly handicapped.”Deane Martin has won six races with his career highlight a victory in the Gr.3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill.
“All going well he’ll run in the City of Auckland Cup and the Avondale Cup,” Peard said.“We’re not sure about the Auckland Cup at this stage. He’s not a proven two-miler, although he is a lot stronger now.”
Meanwhile, the stable’s dual Group Three-winning sprinter Shezhardtocatch is thriving ahead of a return to racing.“She trialled up really well at Avondale – she sat three wide and still won comfortably,” Peard said. “She’ll run first-up in the Newmarket on Boxing Day.”
The promising three-year-old Dragon Dancer will also be in action during the Auckland Christmas carnival with his likely target the Gr.2 The Hits Great Northern Guineas on New Year’s Day.He beat the older horses two runs back before he was unplaced in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial.
“He was three and four wide and tried to improve on the corner before the first five sprinted away,” Peard said. “He was just caught in the wrong part of the track. He is a pretty serious horse.”