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Divissima progressing well for Guineas; It’s Bianca debuts in style; Guy re-appointed as Racing Minister; Innes hoping for better going; Pure Champion onward to Trentham.

Divissima progressing well for Guineas

A home track outing on Saturday will continue Divissima’s progression toward Riccarton.

“She’s on target for the 1000 Guineas and will run in the Rating 65 over 1400 metres at Matamata,” co-trainer Chad Ormsby said.

“She didn’t have much luck last start so we can forgive her for that. In saying that, she can be her own worst enemy sometimes.”

Divissima was forced to race three wide without cover at Hastings when finishing sixth behind O’Marilyn in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes.

By Mastercraftsman out of an Irish-bred Spinning World mare, the stable is confident she will find her best form as she gets over more ground.

“She’s definitely going to stay and she’s going along pretty well,” Ormsby said.

It’s Bianca debuts in style

Cambridge trainer Anne Herbert believes she has a future black type prospect in the impressive Taupo debut winner It’s Bianca.

“She doesn’t hold a nomination for the 1000 Guineas, but we can put in a late one,” she said.

The winner of both her lead-up trials, It’s Bianca was quickly in to stride to lead for Sam Collett and after sprinting off the bend they won in fine style.

“We’ve been waiting for a better track and she was impressive at the trials,” Herbert said.

“Sam (Collett) said after she got off her at the Cambridge trials that he thought she was a bit special.”

Guy re-appointed as Racing Minister

Prime Minister John Key has announced Nathan Guy’s re-appointment as the Primary Industries and Racing Minister.

"It was great to get a phone call from the Prime Minister on Sunday, asking me to carry on as Primary Industries and Racing Minister," Guy said.

"Racing contributes more than $1.6 billion to the economy and supports around 17,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

"As Racing Minister, I will be addressing the issue of gambling leakage. The industry is missing out on much-needed revenue as more people gamble on unregulated and unauthorised off-shore websites. We'll be working with the industry on workable solutions to this challenge.”

Innes hoping for better going

Gerald Innes is unwilling to risk Hocus Pocus at Tauherenikau on Thursday unless there is improvement in the track conditions.

“I don’t want to take a run out of her for the sake of it,” the Opaki trainer said. “I think she’s a real firm tracker and I can wait for the Wellesley at Trentham.”

Hocus Pocus provided her sire Per Incanto with his first raceday winner when she beat stablemates Serena Miss and Wawrinka, who was successful at Riccarton last weekend, on debut at Wanganui.

Pure Champion onward to Trentham

Pure Champion has taken no harm from a tough run when unplaced in the Gr.1 Livamol Spring Classic.

The previous winner of the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate was out of the money after drawing wide on the closing day of the carnival.

“He was a bit fierce and going into the first corner he was caught wide, with a round to go I knew we were in trouble,” co-trainer Andrew Scott said.

“He pulled up well though and we’ll turn our attention to Wellington and the Captain Cook – back to a mile he should be more than competitive.”