Jamie Richards is looking forward to the promising La Forza resuming in the Class Three Garonne Handicap (1,000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night despite an outside draw.
Richards’ stable has been flying, recording seven winners from the last 10 meetings including doubles at both courses, however the New Zealand trainer is hoping a set of unfortunate draws for his three runners doesn’t stop the run of form on Wednesday night.
La Forza returns to the races for the first time since last October after an enforced break due to bone chips in his left knee requiring two arthroscopic surgeries. Brenton Avdulla will be on board as the Toronado galloper looks to add to a solid record of three wins from nine starts.
“He was a natural running horse. He trialled well at home in New Zealand, and then he came here and raced well as a Griffin,” Richards said.
“He’s had a couple of little issues since then, including two sets of knee surgery throughout the season. He had a fragment in his knee after his last start, which then unfortunately got infected through nobody’s fault, but he just needed to be operated on again. So he’s had a few trials back and I think he’s been going along OK, but he might just need a run to bring him on.
