Lad keeps trainer on his toes
UPDATED
Danza Lad continues to be a stern test of Rudy Liefting’s training skills.
While the eight-year-old has won 10 races on the flat and
two over hurdles, his form in between times has been a source of frustration to
the Pukekohe Park conditioner.
"Racehorses are unpredictable, but this one has been twice
as unpredictable as most,” Liefting said.
"He’s been a bit of a training test and you have to keep
entertaining him mentally and keep him fresh.
"He also has to be ridden a certain way, he doesn’t like
being cluttered up on the fence.”
Danza Lad has put together two genuine runs this month,
having won a hurdle race at Te Rapa – where the subsequent Waikato Hurdles
winner Thenamesbond ran third – and he was then placed in an open handicap.
"They have been good, but three starts back he was a lonely
last at Awapuni,” Liefting said. "Sometimes he’s just not interested and
doesn’t try.”
Danza Lad will revert to the jumps at his next appearance in
the K.S. Browne Hurdle at Ellerslie on Queen’s Birthday Monday.
"I want to have a go at a decent money race,” Liefting said.
"You don’t mind them getting to the higher weights as long as they get some
good money on the way through.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Just Got Home’s position at the top of
the handicap in hurdle contests will see him switch to the bigger fences in either
the McGregor Grant Steeplechase or the maiden steeplechase at Ellerslie.
"He’s up in the weights and his jumping has been letting him
down,” Liefting said. "It used to be his strong point so we’re going to
steeplechase him.
"We’ll look at the options with him and give him a few here
and maybe let him finish up in Australia.” – NZ Racing Desk.
UPDATE: Versatile performer
Danza Lad side-lined
Rudy Liefting was in a philosophical mood late this
afternoon when he received unfortunate news about his Group Three winner Danza
Lad.
"He had some filling in a leg so had I to take him to the
vet for a scan and he’s out for the year,” the Pukekohe Park trainer said. "It’s a tear of the flexor tendon.”
The winner of 10 races, including the Gr.3 Thompson
Handicap, Danza Lad has won twice over fences and was being prepared for a
return to that role.
"I was going to run him in the KS Browne Hurdle next Monday
and I thought that race was his for the taking, but that’s the way it goes,”
Liefting said.
He will now be looking to stablemate Just Got Home to lift
stable spirits when he runs on Queen’s Birthday Monday. He is leaning toward
the McGregor Grant Steeplechase over the maiden steeplechase.
"I can’t really see the point of running a good horse for
$10,000, we might as well have a go at the big one,” Liefting said. – NZ
Racing Desk.