3 minute read

Promising lower grade speedster Massale could find himself up against serious sprinting competition later in the year.

The four-year-old’s two wins have been far apart, but his latest success when resuming at Taupo last month was a sign of better things to come.

“He’s come through that really well and if he continues to improve like we think he can then a race like the Newmarket at Ellerslie would suit him,” said Chad Ormsby, who oversees the Matamata arm of senior partner Michael Moroney’s trans-Tasman operation.

“We’ll take it step by step and if he gets that far then maybe we could look at the Railway.”

Massale beat the subsequent Group One placegetter Platinum Balos in his first appearance as a two-year-old before disaster struck in the Listed Karaka Million.

He came to grief 800 metres from home at Ellerslie and suffered a serious knee injury that kept him off the scene for 21 months.

“It’s been well-documented that he’s lucky to be alive,” Ormsby said. “He gives 110 percent every time he goes out, he’s got a great will to win.”

Massale displayed his tenacity at Taupo where he shouldered 60.5kg for a commanding victory under Opie Bosson.

“Opie was blown away by him and he said it’s the best he’s felt,” Ormsby said.

“There’s a couple of options for him next, a Rating 75 over 1300 metres at Taupo again or a Rating 75 at Matamata over 1200 metres.

“The handicapper was quite kind to him after his last win and gave him four points so that’s given him the chance of another crack in the same grade.”