3 minute read
Wayne Hillis is unsure what the future holds for Watch This Space.
The Matamata trainer has the six-year-old in good order for Sunday’s Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint at Hastings, after which he will ponder which direction to take with the gelding.
“He’s still in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, but he’s getting up in the weights now,” Hillis said.Watch This Space is unbeaten in two open handicap appearances this preparation after he followed a first-up success at Ruakaka with victory on the middle day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival.
His resuming win was his first since he beat the dual Group One winner Julinsky Prince in the Gr.2 Japan-New Zealand International Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga 18 months previously.“He had a little problem when he had a chip off his fetlock and had some time off, but he’s always showed plenty of ability,” Hillis said.
“He went off last season when we tried him at weight-for-age. He’s only small but that might be the only option with him again. We’ll see what happens on Sunday first.”He will be ridden at Hastings by Sam Weatherley, who has a perfect record on the son of Elusive City having teamed up with the horse at his last two outings.
Watch This Space is owned by his breeder Emma Evans, who has enjoyed a long and successful association with Hillis.Most notably, they celebrated Group One success in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) with Dezigna, whose brother Izonit won the Gr.3 Manawatu Classsic (2000m) and ran third in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).