The luck of the Irish has not been with Sureasyouwereborn this season ahead of Saturday's $60,000 Riverton Cup.
Tapanui trainers Nikki and Barrie Blatch always knew the 2015-16 season was going to be a difficult ask for their 5yr-old mare, particularly after charging through the grades with four wins last season.
But they could have done with some of that intangible asset known as luck.
‘‘We knew at the start of the season it was going to be a tough season,'' Nikki Blatch said.‘‘But it's been frustrating in the respect we've had wide draws and runs that haven't suited and that sort of thing. The horse has been well, but at that level, you've just have to have things go your way and they haven't gone our way.''
Sureasyouwereborn has been winless through 12 starts this season, but arguably her best two performances have been fourth placings in the New Zealand Cup in November and the Trentham Stakes in January.
That type of effort could be enough for the daughter of Lucky Unicorn to snare Saturday's 2147m listed feature, especially as she has lobbed barrier 1 and is jumping out of her skin for Saturday's race.
‘‘The bruise on my leg says that she's going to win,'' Blatch laughed.‘‘She had a freshen-up with 10 days or so out in the paddock. She's working up nice and I'm pretty happy with her, really.
‘‘In theory, hopefully the track is playing fair which at this stage it will be, she should get a nice sit in behind the leaders and hopefully have something left in the straight.
‘‘At Riverton, there's plenty of room, so she should get a nice run up the straight and be in amongst it.''
The track was rated dead4 when the fields were released yesterday, with showers forecast for today. Blatch said a very slight downgrade would work out well for her mare.
‘‘It wouldn't worry her at all. I would be happy to see the track at a four or a five. A five would be nice - that would suit her.''
Safely through Saturday, Sureasyouwereborn might head to the Canterbury Gold Cup on April 23 and ‘‘possibly'' the Great Autumn Handicap on May 7.
‘‘I've always thought this season and next season will be her better years. At this stage, we'll do pretty much the same [as last season] - look at the New Zealand Cup and that kind of thing.
‘‘She's proved she's competitive but she just need a little bit of luck.''
Blatch expects the ‘‘professional maidener'', Jimmy, should run another solid race in the 1400m maiden.
‘‘He keeps trying, but he seems to find one better quite often,'' she said.‘‘There's not a lot of form in it and he's well. He'll put in a good honest performance.''
