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A long-term plan will come to fruition on August 1 for brothers Trevor and Martin Da Cruz.
The sons of leading Hong Kong trainer Derek Cruz and nephews of champion horseman Tony will join forces in the new season with increased numbers, including a former classic winner, at their Cambridge base.
“It’s always been the idea that I came here to get started and Martin would follow,” Trevor Da Cruz said.
“Martin has been spending time in Hong Kong and New Zealand so he’s been a busy man and we’re looking forward to the new season.
“I started with 10 horses here and now we’ve filled the barn with 31.”
Da Cruz has made a more than satisfactory opening to his training career this season with Packing Tycoon crediting him with the first of four winners when he was successful at Te Rapa in February.
“I only had 26 runners and I’ve been happy with every horse – it’s been a good stepping stone,” he said.
“We’ll have a combination of young horses and a number back from Hong Kong, including Fay Fay.
“He needs the ground to come right and he’ll be ready to start trialling around September time.”
The New Zealand-bred Fay Fay won six of his 23 starts for former trainer John Size, including the 2012 Hong Kong Derby and hasn’t raced since he was unplaced in last year’s Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup.
Along with Packing Tycoon, who gave Da Cruz his first Group One runner when he finished fifth in the Haunui Farm Classic, Casillas and Cashfield are other bright prospects.
Casillas was a runaway winner at Hastings in the autumn and was turned out after he ran fourth on a Heavy 11 track at Trentham in May.
“He wanted it a little bit drier at Trentham and he would have been right there, but he did try very hard,” Da Cruz said.
Cashfield won at Te Aroha earlier this year and was placed in his two other appearances.