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Trainer looking for a racing edge on Group One rivals

3 minute read

Alexander Fieldes is ensuring his quality sprinter-miler Ginner Hart has race fitness on his side when he fronts up for another Group One challenge next month.

Ginner Hart winning the Little Avondale Per Incanto Picture: Trish Dunell

The Wanganui trainer has his sights set on Hastings and the Makfi Challenge Stakes, in which he finished third 12 months ago, on August 27.

“Last year he went to the Makfi not having raced for eight months and he hadn’t had a jump-out or a trial,” Fieldes said.

“He went up to win and then just peaked on his run. This time he will have three well-spaced runs to get him there at his best.”

Unplaced when resuming at Trentham, Ginner Hart will step out in Saturday’s Group 1 Turf Bar 1200 at Te Rapa.

“Hayden Tinsley said he cantered to the turn at Wellington, but he got bogged down in the straight,” Fieldes said. “He said not to worry, the horse is 100 percent.

“We’ll get a better track on Saturday – even if it’s heavy at Te Rapa it will be better than anywhere else.”

Safely through the weekend, Fieldes plans a return to Hamilton ahead of the opening leg of the Triple Crown series.

“As long as he runs very well then we will go back for the Foxbridge Plate,” he said. “All will be revealed on Saturday.”

As a Group Three winner and multiple stakes placegetter, Ginner Hart looks well-placed with Zinjete Moki’s claim giving them a pull in the weights on two other leading contenders – Barbaric and Southern Icon.