‘Flying' Trial Has Debra On Point For Futurity Test

TRAINER Mark Gatt is confident a heavy fall by extra smart Ritza Debra at Wentworth Park last Friday will not impact her chances in the heats of the Group 1 National Futurity (520m) there this Friday night.

The daughter of Flying Ricciardo-Ritza Millie was crashed to the track by another runner, then turned back and was hit by the on-coming lure.

FIELDS AND FORM WENTWORTH PARK FRIDAY NIGHT

“But, she did not really suffer any harm from the fall or the run-in with the lure,” said Mark. “She got a bit of sand burn which healed up almost immediately.”

Gatt took Ritza Debra, winner of six of her 10 starts to date, to Dapto on Monday for a post to post.

“She went 24.00 and that is low flying,” he said.

“It equates to a 29.50 run over the 500 there.”

Mark had to convince himself Ritza Debra had taken no mental harm from the fall.

“Of course you never know until they go into a race,” he said.

Ritza Debra has drawn the five in her heat of the Futurity on Friday night and Mark is wary of her rivals and their box manners.

“The red (Clattered) is a wide runner, the two (Candice Keeping) goes straight, the six (I'm A Mustang) comes across … you see what I mean,” he said.

“It could be a recipe for trouble.”

But, Ritza Debra has a vacant box on her outside.

FLYING RICCIARDO AT STUD

“She's a pretty good bitch and I am very happy with the Flying Ricciardo litter,” said Mark.

“They are really good chasers, good box dogs. I like them.”

He believes Ritza Debra has not “put it all together” yet.

“I reckon she is a 29.60 bitch (her best winning at Wenty is 29.80) but that will come,” he said.