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The Waikato Guineas has been a kind race to Kay Lane in the past and she is again heading north this weekend with high expectations.
Lane won the Te Rapa event in 1998 with Figurehead and she also produced Figueres to finish fourth in 2007.
The Levin horsewoman’s hopes on Saturday in the Group Two Darci Brahma-sponsored feature will rest with the lightly-tried Figurable.“He’s very well and he’s looking for more ground now,” said Lane, who also co-bred and part-owns the three-year-old.
“This will be his first trip away so he’s on a learning curve and this will help him for the future.”Figurable has shaped promisingly in a brief career to date with runner-up finishes at his first two appearances. He then led all of the way to post a runaway victory over a mile at Stratford in late December.
“He likes to run along in front and he just keeps going,” Lane said.“He’s not the brightest boy just yet and he can be a bit keen. He’s a big, strong horse who needs two people in the birdcage.”
Figurable finished eighth last time out when he stepped up to black type company in the Gr.1 Levin Classic at Trentham.“He needs pace in the race – he hasn’t got a sharp sprint, he’s like an old-fashioned staying horse,” Lane said.
Lane has Figurable, who will be ridden by Mark Du Plessis, on a path to the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby, but she also has a Plan B in place.“If he goes well on Saturday he’ll run in the Avondale Guineas before the Derby, but otherwise he can have a wee break and we’ll look at Brisbane with him,” she said.