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Taranaki owner-trainer Warren Bolton is understandably excited by the black type prospects this season of his boutique stable.
The New Plymouth conditioner doesn’t have numbers on his side, but he does have quality as was emphasised at his local meeting on Saturday.
Bolton produced Pella to finish a close second on debut in the opening event, the Waterfront Maiden, and then went one better in the Juffermans Surveyors 1200 with the resuming Elvis, both ridden Johnathon Parkes.“He’s a very talented galloper and the filly would have won in another stride as well,” Bolton said.
Elvis had won on the track at the first time of asking last season before he finished fourth behind the accomplished Passing Shot at Trentham. He was put aside after an unplaced run in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.“I think he’ll be a Derby horse in the autumn and Johnathon said he’ll stay,” Bolton said.
“He’s not quite there yet and his coat’s just starting to turn. He hasn’t trialled and he had a jump-out six weeks ago – I always leave improvement in them.“He’s still learning and developing and I might have a look at the Wellington Guineas, but he won’t be going south (for the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas) and the Derby will be the focus.”
Bolton said he had also received interest in the Road To Rock three-year-old from Hong Kong.“I won’t sell him – he’ll be staying in New Zealand.”
Elvis settled midfield on the fence on Saturday before Parkes angled off the rail near the turn and they came with a strong run to win comfortably by a length and a-half.His well-related stablemate Pella will now also be chasing black type to complement her pedigree.
“I bought her for $35,000 at the Melbourne Sale,” Bolton said. “She’s by Snitzel and her third dam is the mother of Thorn Park.“Johnathon said she’s going to be a very good filly.”