Racing: Wingatui preferred

Coup Rocky Road will bypass his engagement on his home track at Riccarton on Saturday and head to Wingatui for a race the next day.

The 3yr-old trained by Terri Rae ran second to Powder Creek over 1200m last Thursday.

Apprentice KC Walters has retained the mount.

Flight Point, who has not raced since August 2010, resumes at Wingatui on Sunday. The winner of 12 races including the 2008 Canterbury Gold Cup, Flight Point qualified as a hurdler this month for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton after being brought out of retirement.

The 10yr-old has top weight of 62kg in a rating 85 1600m on Sunday with Salem Yusof able to claim 3kg.

High Forty, who accompanied Flight Point in his qualifying bouts over fences, is also resuming on Sunday.

"Flight Point has schooled really well and both he and High Forty will go to Riverton after their races on the flat," Brian Anderton said.

Stablemate Whata Delight was withdrawn at Riccarton due to a throat infection.

Jafa Jack, who strained a tendon in the Riverton Cup, has been swimming since he returned to the stable of Shane Hapeta at Karaka.

"There has been some improvement in his leg and his owners are considering sending him to Massey University to have his leg treated," Hapeta said.

Shez Sinsational, last-start winner of the Auckland Cup (3200m) on March 7, is top weight with 59kg for an open 1400m at Tauranga on Saturday. Michael McNab, who can claim 2kg, has the mount.

Chris Johnson is the new rider for Go Danny in the Canterbury Gold Cup on Saturday.

Hayden Tinsley who rode the Kevin Hughes-trained Go Danny to win the Founders Cup (2000m) at Riccarton last Saturday, is at Hastings this week.

Go Danny had not won a race since October, 2010 when trained by Grant Searle. The Diamond Dane gelding had been ridden by Tinsley in that win.

Johnson won a rating 90 1400m on Go Danny at Foxton in 2009.

Champion hurdler Black And Bent and promising steeplechaser Phaze Action won their respective races impressively at Sandown yesterday, providing an excellent prelude to the Warrnambool racing carnival next month, AAP reports.

Phaze Action overcame difficulties to win the Like Sportingbet Park On Facebook Steeplechase (3300m) while Black And Bent cruised to his eighth straight win over the jumps in the Pink Ribbon Cup Day This Saturday @ Caulfield Hurdles (3300m).

Trainer Robert Smerdon confirmed Black And Bent would contest the $100,000 Galleywood Hurdles (3200m) at Warrnambool on May 2, a race he won two years ago.

Black And Bent again amazed his rider Steven Pateman with the ease of his five-length win, untouched under 70kg.

Cranbourne trainer Matthew Hyland said Phaze Action would go to the $100,000 Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) at Warrnambool on May 1.

The 2009 Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) winner put in a faulty leap at the second of five fences at the back of the course causing rider Paul Hamblin to lose an iron.

Hamblin managed to quickly get his foot back in the stirrup and the Phizam 8yr-old, despite losing two lengths, was good enough win.

English-based champion Frankel, injured in a track gallop a week ago, will have scans taken later this week on his injured off-fore leg.

The Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt, is unbeaten in nine starts and is rated the No 1 galloper in the world.

 

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