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Lucy Tanner hopes to make up for a missed opportunity at Trentham earlier this year with her six-year-old Heavens Keep on her home track next month.
Heavens Keep will be on trial for the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) on April 1 when he contests the Agricom Handicap at the Marton meeting on Friday.
“This is a dress rehearsal for the Gold Cup,” the Awapuni trainer said.“I had to late scratch him from the Duoro Cup at Trentham because of a stone bruise and that was very disappointing. I thought he could have won it.
“Now I’m looking at the Gold Cup. The conditions suit with it being set weights and penalties.”Heavens Keep has won six of his 32 starts with his most recent win coming two starts ago over 2050m at Tauherenikau when beating Wiggle, who is again a rival on Friday. That win had put him on track for the Duoro Cup (1600m) on January 21.
Once over the stone bruise, Heavens Keep raced over 1400m at Woodville and finished second-last in the six-horse field, just over six lengths from the winner, Shadow Fox.“I had freshened him and he had to drop back in distance at Woodville,” Tanner said. “He’s a lot better for the run.
“I’ve never been happier with him than at the moment.“I galloped him on the course proper (on Wednesday) and he was outstanding. It’s the best he’s ever felt.”
Shaun McKay will ride Heavens Keep with Tanner not keen to go for an apprentice allowance.“Some people have said I should claim, but if he can’t win with 57.5kgs he’s not going to be any chance in the Gold Cup,” she said.