“The Beast from the East” is back

Robyns Playboy (Shadow Play) – “The Beast from the East” is back with Gore harness racing trainers Ross and Chris Wilson after a disappointing stint in Australia with New South Wales trainers KerryAnn and Robbie Morris.

“It’s a real relief to have him home because things weren’t going right and we just didn’t know what to do about it,” Ross Wilson said.

The six year old had ten starts in Australia and he failed to fill a dividend bearing place with the Morris’s unable to put their finger on the reasons for his poor performances.

“They said before taking him to the races that his work was phenomenal. He was beating anything they had at home and they’re the top trainers in New South Wales. Then he’d go to the races and basically sulk. He wouldn’t have won a maiden race the way he was going.”

The horse was sent to a local University and his heart and lungs were tested on a treadmill.

“They said he performed as good as any horse they ever had so there was nothing physically wrong with him.”

Wilson says the horse is back in his old paddock and enjoying familiar surroundings.

“This paddock is surrounded by trees, and he can talk to us through our kitchen window. He’s back standing at the gate singing out ready to be fed.”

Wilson says Robyns Playboy has a 68 rating which means he’ll be able to race in Southland before perhaps venturing further afield.

“We’re just a bit apprehensive (as to) why he didn’t perform over there. I hope he hasn’t decided that’s the way it is now.”

The Tuapeka Cup at Ascot Park on 23 rd October is a race Wilson is keen to tackle. The Shadow Play gelding won the feature in 2019 and 2020 and he finished third last season.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink