South Australian trainer Gordon Richards provides update on Saturday runners

TRAINER Gordon Richards experienced the highs and lows of racing last Saturday with a two-state double and a luckless Gytrash finishing out of the placings in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.

Earlier Richards was on fire and chasing a three-state treble when two-year-old Magic Max ($5.50) took out the opening event at Caulfield, while 15 minutes later Garrire ($13) also saluted at Morphettville Parks.

But that luck ended when Gytrash ($6), three wide on the turn for home, was severely hampered just after straightening with a couple of runners appearing to cut its momentum.

Gytrash, from barrier 15, finished 12th but just 2.8 lengths from the winner Vega One – ridden by champion jockey Jamie Kah.

Richards said Gytrash was gallant.

“He has pulled up a bit sore but he is ok,’’ Richards said.

“He didn’t have much luck with the interference but he will go for a spell to reset and then target The Everest.’’

The Everest, billed as the world’s richest race on turf, is worth $14 million and will be run at Randwick on Saturday, October 16.

Richards also was impressed with his young stars which gave him a two-state double.

“Magic Max showed he was definitely up to Melbourne company with that run and should go on with it now, while Garrire got a long way back and showed enough to suggest he could get out to 1400m. He was really good.’’

Richards also saddled up the well-supported Spinola Bay which finished a luckless third in a 1000m maiden at the Parks after checking off heels of another horse.

But the winner, the Ryan Balfour-trained Kenobi, was outstanding on debut, blowing away the field by five lengths with jockey Dom Tourneur in cruise mode.

Leading rider Jess Eaton also chalked up her first metro winner since resuming riding from injury when Rock of Kryptonite won a 1000m Benchmark 60 for the Mick Price/Michael Kent Junior stable.

Jockeys Kayla Crowther and Jacob Opperman and trainer Travis Double recorded doubles, while jockey Todd Pannell featured consistently with a win, four seconds and a third.

Originally published asHighs and lows for Richards’ Saturday runners

Source: Read Full Article