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| News and Updates |
| 17 December 2002: Ravenna trials at Foxton Ravenna is trialling at Foxton on December 20th, a "nice quiet trial" over 1000m. Thomas Russell will be riding for the trial, and for her first up race which is anticipated to be either Hawkes Bay on 1 January 2003, or Woodville on 4 January 2003. "She's going really really good - I'm very happy - she's a very nice horse. She just does enough and does what she's asked - I'm confident she will be good - she rises to the occasion and it looks good for us all getting some money off her first time up." - Stephen Marsh |
| 20 December 2002: Trial won over 1000m at Foxton by 2 lengths ... www.nzracing.co.nz |
| 4 February 2003: Nominated for 1400m, Tauherenikau, Thursday 6 February ... www.nzracing.co.nz Ravenna trained on well and did trackwork with Hail a few days ago, coming home the final 600 metres in 35.1. She has recovered well from her near mishap at Trentham and looks well for her 1400m assignment at Tauherenikau. The extra distance should suit and she will figure in the finish in this one. |
| 7 February 2003: Stephen Marsh was right on the money when he said Ravenna would figure in the placings at Tauherenikau on Thursday. She came in a creditable 2nd, three lengths behind Scintillating who blitzed the field from last position to take out the race. There were a few hairy moments both before and after the race. Ravenna's race was put back a full 30 minutes following a fall by Andrew Taggart as he headed out to the start gates. And following her race, during the euphoria of a 2nd place, the siren sounded a protest, which we understood to be 3rd against 2nd. However, the protest was dismissed, placings stood, and Ravenna paid out the princely sum of $2.10. Trainer's report to follow .... "Ravenna paid some of her supporters back yesterday with an impressive second at Tauherenikau. After drawing wide, she got to the rail quickly and was run down by Scintillating 100 metres from the post. She showed good gate speed and a surprising turn of pace at the top of the straight - jockey Thomas Russell was very impressed and is looking forward to getting her over a bit of extra ground. Ravenna will now be spelled for five weeks as she is freshened up for a tilt at the lucrative Easter racing scene." update - Sam Yates |
| 19 March 2003: Ravenna will be back in work tomorrow, to get her ready for her next round of racing. Stephen is waiting for a softer track as the ground is too hard for her at the moment, but he will be getting her into the pool for some good workouts. She has come back from her spell looking fit and ready to get started again. Now we just need to pray for some rain! |
| 6 May 2003: Ravenna is set to race again on Thursday, 8 May, at Foxton (the Feilding Jockey Club race meeting). The race is a 1400m maiden for a stake of $5,000. The race is scheduled for 3.57pm and Ravenna is drawn at number 2. Jason Waddell has been requested as jockey for this race; if he is not available, then David Walker may take the ride. The fields for the day are available at www.nzracing.co.nz. A few comments from Stephen Marsh: Stephen has said he is thrilled with the way Ravenna has worked and progressed since her jumpout. In his opinion she is "ready to rumble" and will go a very good race even though he believes there is still a lot of improvement in her as well. He feels she is well worth supporting on the tote on Thursday. |
| 28 April 2003: Ravenna's progress this time in work has been very good. Her troublesome hoof has had plenty of attention from the farrier and it appears to have worked for her. She had a jumpout over 1000m at Woodville on Thursday and was only just beaten in a gallop that pleased the trainer. Plans are now to return Ravenna to the races in May in a 1200m maiden. |
| 13 May 2003: Update from Syndicate Manager, Blair Thomson Blair travelled to Focton to watch the race on Thursday and has said that Ravenna did look well and looked much more comfortable on the hoof after the farrier did all the work. "Jason Waddell rode her a treat and was unlucky not to get a clear passage in the straight. When he pulled off the rails to go up alongside Tradard, that horse kept rolling off the rail and Jason was too committed to pull back and go back up the inside. Once she was in cramped quarters, she did not travel so sweetly and I believe she was going to blow out with about 100m to go, so he certainly did not knock her around. Jason is very keen to ride Ravenna again, he said she is such a lovely kind filly who does everything you ask of her. He said next time he would not sit back and take a trail as she appears to be a much more fluent galloper when let free to run along and so he would like to just go to the front and let her bowl along." Following the race, Stephen Marsh said he would see how she pulls up and comes through the race before deciding where to go next - he was concerned that the track on Thursday was a little firmer than he expected so a few showers somewhere would be a big help. |