Buckskin thriving ahead of Motukarara test

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Robert Davis withstood the urge to head to Blenheim with Buckskin earlier this month and he is hoping that decision pays off at Motukarara Raceway on Sunday.

The American Ideal gelding will start from behind the 10m tape in the Canterbury Trotting Owners Assn Summer Handicap Pace (2810m) and Davis is hoping he can improve on his last start runner-up effort at the track last month.

“I was very pleased with that run. He got a good run but he sticks on and he seems to like a bit of a fight in the finish,” Davis said.

“He had a couple of days off after his last start. I thought about taking him to Blenheim but decided not to.

“There are quite a few races coming up for him so I didn’t want to overdo it with him. I thought two quick ones at Blenheim might take the edge off him for the rest of them.

“He has been working really nice and I am really pleased with him ahead of Sunday.”

Buckskin has recorded three of his five wins on the grass and Davis is trying to keep to the surface this preparation.

“He prefers the grass to the grit, it evens them out a wee bit and it suits him. He has always gone well on the grass and he loves the Mot,” Davis said.

Davis is expecting a bold showing from his charge this weekend and is hoping he get a nice trip.

“He will go alright,” he said. “If he can get a nice run and get handy, hopefully he will be in the finish.”

Davis is looking to continue Buckskin on the Country Cups circuit and he said qualifying for the $100,000 Country Cups Final at Addington at Easter is his major goal.

“There is the Amberley Cup, Cheviot Cup, Waikouaiti on the grass at Oamaru, and Waimate. I will try and stick to those sort of races,” Davis said.

“I will try and keep him to the grass if I can, but if I have to go to Addington just to keep his fitness right I will.

“We will see how we go, if we don’t make it (to the Country Cups Final) we will have a bit of fun along the way.”