First box ticked in The Tui Toiler's Riverton quest
With no official trials in Southland and Otago, trainer Stephen Blair-Edie has to make two trips to Canterbury for trials with his horse The Tui Toiler.
Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Western Southland racehorse The Tui Toiler has passed the first of two official trials required for his return to racing.
He ran off in a race at Gore on March 12 and as it was the third time he had been difficult to steer or run off during a race, stewards advised trainer Stephen Blair-Edie that The Tui Toiler must trial twice to the satisfaction of stewards before racing again.
With no official trials in Southland and Otago, Blair-Edie has to make two trips to Canterbury with the gelding.
The first trial was today [Tuesday] at Riccarton in Christchurch. Trials were held on the synthetic track and The Tui Toiler competed over 1000m in an open heat.
Gosen Jogoo, who rode The Tui Toiler at Gore, was back in the saddle today.
The Tui Toiler did everything right to get the tick of approval from stewards.
"He settled back [in the trial] and ran past a couple in the straight," Blair-Edie, of Birchwood, said.
"I'm really happy ... only one more trial to do."
The second trial is at Ashburton on April 6. Blair-Edie wants to race The Tui Toiler at Riverton on Easter Monday, April 10.
