3 minute read

It’s the right time of the year for the stakes performer Rising Shot to shine.

Twelve months ago the mare went on a run of form that saw her win twice in the lower grades before she finished runner-up to Coldplay in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).

Trainer David Greene again has the Red Giant mareaimed at the Te Rapa mile and ahead of that target he is expecting her to make her presence felt in the Humphries Construction Handicap (1550m) at Awapuni on Thursday.

“It looks a nice race for her and fits in nicely,” he said. “Her work has been good and I think she’ll be a really good chance.”

Rising Shot will be making the fourth appearance of her current preparation with merit in all of her performances.

“She’s looking pretty good and I was expecting her to run very well at Ellerslie before the weather went against us, but she still did her best under the circumstances,” Greene said.

Rising Shot finished fourth on an unsuitable Slow 9 surface.

“She’s better on top of the ground. She’s taken a couple of races to hit peak fitness and she’s there now,” Greene said.

“She’ll have this race and then we’ll look at the Eagle Technology Stakes and the Cal Isuzu will be her main goal.”

Rising Shot is yet to be tried beyond a mile, but expectations are that she will cope with more ground.

“I think there’s a good chance she can get 2000m, she relaxes nicely and she’s always strong at the end of her races,” Greene said.