The New Zealand Cup awaits Robyns Playboy after he scored back-to-back wins in the Tuapeka Cup at Forbury Park yesterday.
The horse, dubbed "The Beast From The East’’ by his fans, effectively booked his ticket to the country’s greatest race when he overcame a 30m handicap in the 2700m race.
Robyns Playboy will not be seen again in public before the second Tuesday in November.
“He won’t have another race before that cup.
"We usually give him two weeks between races, so we will stick to that,” his Whiterig co-trainer Chris Wilson said.
Robyns Playboy’s had disappointed when fifth behind Pembrook Playboy in his last outing at Ascot Park.
Ross and Chris Wilson made changes to the horse’s training regime which paid off when he held off Deus Ex in a thrilling finish.
“We were a bit disappointed with his last run,” Chris Wilson said.
“He had been having a week off after his last few starts but this time we kept hoppling him right through.
“It worked a treat, so we will keep doing it.”
Robyns Playboy was ranked 13th, two places inside the 15-horse cutoff for the New Zealand Cup, when its latest rankings were released last week.
With his Tuapeka Cup win likely to boost him up the order of entry, it looks highly likely the 5yr-old will make the final field for the 3200m feature.
The way Robyns Playboy has been getting away from the standing start tapes should help him get every opportunity to figure in the finish of the New Zealand Cup.
Craig Ferguson had the pacer in the front within the first lap of the Tuapeka Cup courtesy of yet another quick getaway.
The Wilsons will now hope their stable star can land a front-row draw and produce the same kind of beginning under the pressure of a New Zealand Cup.
The New Zealand Cup atmosphere, with its roars from of a full grandstand in the home straight, may help Robyns Playboy when he gets to Addington.
The pacer was almost a little too chilled out in the quieter surrounds of Forbury Park yesterday.
"Craig said he was a bit lazy in the straight and he was waiting for the second horse. But once he got up to him near the post he took off again, so that is a good sign.
“He looked like he was getting a bit tired, but Craig thought he was just getting a bit complacent.”
One of the most popular wins yesterday came when Bev’s K One trotted to victory in race 5.
Bev’s K One is named after Tuapeka Harness Racing Club stalwart and part-owner Bev Kenny.
Fellow owner Heather Williams said Kenny, who was unable to make yesterday’s meeting, watched the race on TV with her family and got a huge thrill from her horse’s victory.
Officials said Kenny had had a long association with the club and it was special to see her win a race at its annual meeting.
