By Duane Ranger
His form-line might be average but the horse that is very much for sale can win the feature pace at Manawatu Raceway tonight (Thursday).
Four Starzzz Shiraz’s Amberley-based trainer Kevin Chapman said he was running out of options for the 5-year-old gelding in Canterbury and the chestnut gelding arrived in Palmerston North this week simply because the Manawatu meeting was his only viable racing option.
“He’s a short-course horse specialist and there’s just nothing for him down here unless you line him up against the guns. He doesn’t like grass track racing so that’s why he’s in Palmerston North. The racing suits,” Chapman said.
“All my horses are for sale. I just sold Jabari,” he added.
Chapman is confident he can go close on both days of the Manawatu meeting. The Wairarapa Cup will be raced on Sunday on the same track.
Four Starzzz Shiraz will start from one on the second line in tonight’s $7,500 O’Fee & Associates Mobile for the C3 to C6 pacers.
“He hasn’t had much luck in his three races back this campaign. He got checked twice between the 400m and the 300m last start and generally hasn’t had things go his way in all three starts.
“I know he’s much better than that. He’s going real well in his work and if I didn’t think he could win up there I wouldn’t have sent him up.
“He will need a few breaks from one on the second line but he’s good enough to take that race after competing against the likes of Maverick and Field Marshall,” said Chapman.
The Canterbury horsemen sent Four Starzzz Shiraz to Stephen Doody’s barn this week.
“I told Noddy (Doody) he’s ready to go and he wouldn’t have to do hardly anything with him. I’ll line him up again on Sunday and then probably the next Manawatu meeting which is on February 16 and 18.
“After then who knows?” Chapman said.
Andrew Poutama will drive the 5-year-old son of Four Starzzz Shark. It will be his first look at the track.
The Brent Weaver trained and driven Lucia Bromac (1) and the Geoff Small trained and David Butcher driven Major Change (8) look the hardest for Four Starzzz Shiraz in tonight’s seven-strong feature event.
The former has been running on well in her races and four of her seven wins have been at Manawatu Raceway, including three over the 2000 mobile.
Major Change is better than what he’s shown. The winner of seven of his 20 starts won well at Wairarapa on January 3 and can repeat the dose here.
He has won three times at this venue including a four from nine win ration over the distance.
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