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The Live Sport Bible is here!Life’s a beach for Riverplate
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 15th, 2026 3:28 pm
Riverplate (centre) will contest Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Otaki. Photo: Jane Davidson (Race Images)
Riverplate is loving life on the Kapiti Coast and that has been reflected in his recent results.
The seven-year-old gelding made a comeback from retirement late last year and Campbell has been working him on the beach, with his new environment agreeing with the son of Flying Artie, who has won two of his last five starts.
“We work him on the beach and he is loving life, he is doing well,” Campbell said. “We have got a little stable at the beach so we use that and keep him there permanently. It is good for the older horses.”
While Riverplate has finished unplaced in his last two starts at stakes level, his runner-up performance behind Mr Mojo Risin' over 1400m at Waverley last week has given Campbell the confidence to tackle black-type company once more in Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) at Otaki.
Campbell is pleased with his charge heading into the weekend, with the mile distance being his only concern.
“The mile is a concern. On his pedigree he is a sprinter, but we have taken the blinkers off him this time and hopefully he gets a nice easy lead,” Campbell said.
The Otaki horseman hasn’t made any plans with Riverplate post his weekend run but said the spelling paddock is beckoning.
“He is race by race,” Campbell said. “We will just see how he goes. He has been up a while, but while he is racing well we will just press on.”
Campbell will also be represented at his home meeting by Perfect Pete in the Harcourts Otaki Handicap (1100m) and Valvano in the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock 3YO (1200m).
“Perfect Pete is fresh-up and normally he is a wet tracker,” Campbell said. “His work has been good and I expect a good showing from him.
“I hope Valvano is back to his best. I have rated him a long time and he has had a few niggly injuries but I think we are on top of them now, so I am excited to see him go around. He should go well, he is pretty right.”
