Weight sees Gerard bypass Proisir Plate with Affirmative Action

Matamata trainer Pam Gerard has elected to bypass Saturday’s Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) with Affirmative Action, which will allow the Stephen Marsh-trained Tardelli to make the 16-horse field.

Affirmative Action resumed with a pleasing fourth placing in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) earlier this month, but Gerard cited weight concerns as a key factor in her decision, and the son of Yes Yes Yes will be kept to sprint distances this spring.

“It’s just the weight disadvantage for the four-year-old geldings,” Gerard said. “Looking ahead to the future, if he were to run a good race and run a place, I think he would go sky high through the weights, and it would be very tricky for him thereon.

“He will go to Te Rapa the following week for an open 1100m. He might go to Hastings for the open sprint (Gr.3 Timberspan Spring Sprint, 1400m) and Te Rapa on the 7th of November for the Legacy (Listed, 1200m). We are just going to play it by ear and stick to open handicaps at this stage.

“We will give him a light season, he had a pretty big season last year.”

Group 1-winning stablemate Romanoff looks to be building nicely into his spring preparation, and he will likely resume at Hastings next week before returning for the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) a fortnight later.

“He has come back well, as has the other fella (Affirmative Action), they have had a nice spell,” Gerard said. “

He is always a horse that puts 100 percent in whatever he does, whether it is track work or racing. It is good to see him that little bit wiser and stronger. I am looking forward to getting him out and about.”