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Stratocaster To Tackle Age Group Event
Stratocaster will take on his own age group at Hastings on Saturday to gauge his longer-term classic prospects.
The Mastercraftsman gelding has also been entered for the special conditions event, but will start in the DHL Hawke’s Bay Guineas Prelude.
“He’s pretty well-weighted in that and he’ll only carry 54kg and we want to see where we’re at against some of the others with a view to the Guineas on the last day,” co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne said.
Stratocaster turned in a good effort for fifth in his sole two-year-old appearance at Ruakaka last season.
“He’s still a bit green, but he finished off really well,” Browne said.
The stable will also be represented by the resuming duo of Blizzard and Nigelissima in the Rating 75 Bay Ford Punter of the Year October 4th Mile.
“They both ran at the Te Teko trials on the same day, but Blizzard tends to be the more naturally fit horse,” Browne said.
Nashville Hitting The Right Notes
The Nashville camp is bullish about their prospects in Saturday’s Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.
“He’s fit, he’s ready and he drew well,” said co-trainer Harry Bull, who prepares the gelding with his father Adrian at Hunterville.
To jump from a handy gate under Jonathan Riddell, Nashville hasn’t raced since he won the Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton in April, but has won a trial at Waverley during his build-up toward the Hastings feature.
Prize Money Increases For 2014-15
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has announced increases in prize money for the current season of $1.5 million.
"The Board has committed to these increases because they are needed by owners, trainers and jockeys,” NZTR chairman Matthew Goodson said.
“They are sustainable, being paid out of budgeted income and backed by reserves that NZTR started to set aside in 2012.”
Sargent Sweating On Track
The participation of Group One winner Kirramosa at Rosehill on Saturday is in the balance.
Trainer John Sargent is keen to run the VRC Oaks winner in the Benchmark 95 Handicap due to its timing for future targets, but he is unwilling to send her out of a heavy track.
"I'd like to run her if I can,” he said. “ It would work out well because it's three weeks after her first run and it would be three weeks to the George Main, but I would like to see the track come back to slow."
Kirramosa ran an encouraging first-up sixth in the Gr.2 Missile Stakes when she opened her Caulfield and Melbourne Cups’ campaign.
Rosie To Partner Top Makfi Hope
Rosie Myers has been presented with a golden opportunity to add to her Group One tally with the mount of Scapolo at Hastings on Saturday.
She has been engaged for the Kevin Myers-trained runner following the suspension of the horse’s regular rider David Walker.
A last-start winner at Riccarton, Scapolo is currently the second equal $7.50 favourite with Nasshville behind the $4.60 fancy I Do.
Xanadu and Sacred Star, both at $8.50, are the only other runners at single figure odds in the Makfi.