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Australian syndicator OTI Racing have made a timely acquisition of Skippers Canyon, with the promising three-year-old set to potentially recoup a portion of their outlay in Saturday’s $350,000 Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham.
Bred by Ardsley Stud, the Belardo gelding has shown plenty of promise for trainer Jim Wallace, placing on four occasions before breaking through for his maiden victory over 2100m at Otaki earlier this month.
Terry Henderson's OTI Racing came calling over the weekend, and a deal was struck this week, with Skippers Canyon to remain in Wallace's care at Opaki, and he will race for the first time in OTI Racing's familiar silks this weekend.
"I have always had a decent opinion of him," Jim Wallace said. "It has taken a long time for the pennies to drop in the right slots in his head, but he got it all together pretty well last time.
"He runs for my barn on Saturday and then it will depend what he does as to what happens after that. There is a chance he will stay with me, but that is a decision OTI will make after Saturday.
"I am absolutely rapt to be taking him down on Saturday because it is a race I have set him for for quite a while and everything has fallen into place so far.
"It is a good deal for us and hopefully it is a good deal for them (OTI)."
Skippers Canyon is nominated for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in March, for which he is at a winning quote of $18 on the TAB's futures market, and Wallace is hopeful of a bold showing this weekend to aid his chances of continuing towards the $1 million classic.
"I couldn't be happier with him. His work yesterday (Tuesday), which was his main piece of work, was very good. He is pretty much right on track," Wallace said.
"The draw (17) isn't going to make too much difference to him because he gets back anyway."
Skippers Canyon will likely be joined on the journey to Trentham by stablemate Wooing Tree who is set to contest the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Wallace also has Classic ambitions with the daughter of Mongolian Khan and is eyeing a path towards the $1 million Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in March, a race he won two years ago with Pennyweka.
"She is a filly I have got an opinion of," Wallace said. "Long-term, with her pedigree and the way she is behaving, I would like to get her to the Oaks."
Wooing Tree has had just the one start to date, finishing fifth on debut over 1400m at Trentham earlier this month, and while Wallace admits tackling stakes company for the first time at just her second start is a stiff ask, he is willing to roll the dice after drawing the ace barrier.
"She did a few things wrong at the start and over-raced (on debut)," Wallace said. "She ran to the line quite well in the last 300m, I was quite happy with the way she finished off. Hopefully we can iron out a few of the issues and she will pick it up.
"She has shown us enough to indicate that she is a little bit above average ability, but what is between her ears might not quite measure up to it at this stage.
"I am just feeling my way as to where we go. I have got her in the race at Wellington, which is well out of her comfort zone, and I have also put her in a mile at Wanganui on Monday. At this stage, I am thinking about going to Wellington."
