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Cody Cole will spend most of his long weekend in the Central Districts with representatives across two meetings, including his early Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) contender Landlock at Trentham.
The Merchant Navy juvenile made a winning debut at Wanganui in late September, adding an all-important $23,000 to his stakes earnings ahead of a bid at the $1 million feature in January. Kelly Myers was aboard when he just bettered a game Princess Elsa in the race, and she remains in the saddle for Sunday's Graham's Painters 900.
"He's come through that run super, we gave him a bit of time in the paddock," Cole said.
"He's pretty naturally clean-winded and seems to have made nice improvement from that run.
"He's drawn a good gate (1) and there will be a bit of rain around, but he copped a Heavy10 last time so I'm not too worried about that.
"The Karaka Millions is the plan for him, we've got plenty of time up our sleeve and he's got a good amount of money in the kitty already, so we'll see how he runs on Sunday and probably head back for another break before taking that next step."
Landlock will make the journey south alongside older stablemate Kind Thoughts, a promising mare that Cole believes deserves her chance in the Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m).
Kind Thoughts has only made seven appearances to the races, with four of those finishing in the top two, including a Premier MAAT victory at the venue last December. She finished less than two lengths adrift of What You Wish For at Matamata at her most recent start, with a subsequent gear change to come on Sunday.
"She probably doesn't have the form or credentials to go into a race like this, but I really think she has a bright future and just needs to get out on a big open track where she is able to wind up," Cole said.
"We've put the blinkers on her and I think that's something she's been screaming out for. I think she'll be a lot sharper and we've probably got a few lengths up our sleeve with those on.
"She's going to have to be above what her best has been in the past, but I think she's progressive enough to deserve a shot at a race like that.
"It's a strong field with plenty of depth to it and more proven horses, but I think if the best of her turns up and she gets the right run, there's no reason she can't be booming home and be in the first three or four.
"But, if it gets into that heavy range, she will be staying home. She's probably a better track horse and we haven't tried her on that surface, and this isn't the kind of race you want to be finding out in."
Earlier in the week, Cole will saddle six runners at New Plymouth on Friday, including Redwood mare Latrelle in the ComCat 1200.
As with Kind Thoughts, Cole has allowed Latrelle plenty of time to mature and was rewarded with a string of consistent form in her four-year-old season, including two wins at 1200m and a mile.
"She's super, we've always had an opinion of her and being a backmarker, she's been unlucky on several occasions not to pick up a few more wins," Cole said.
"It's a nice kick-off point, she's won at 1200m and she's drawn a nice gate (4). Whether she's a winning chance at 1200 I'm not sure and she'll need luck from the back, but I think she'll be getting home pretty well.
"She won her last race at a mile and we'll probably look at some nice races in that range if she can keep progressing through the grades. She's well-capable and has a good future."
Each of the mares are bred and raced by Gerry Harvey, who also has first starter Bannan making his debut in the Taranaki – Whanganui Breeders' Association Maiden 1200.
"He's a really nice horse, he's got a good amount of ability but just has taken some time to get there," Cole said.
"He's drawn a nice gate (2) and if he can get the right kind of run, he can go a good race."
The NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Race (1400m) will feature both Reimagined and Carajillo, the latter an eye-catching finisher in her third-placed run at Egmont.
"She went massive in her last start, coming from last and a long way off them to really boom home," Cole said.
"She didn't cop the shifty track at Matamata first-up and we expected she may run that way, but on the better track she was back to her best which was really good to see. Up to 1400 with a nicer gate (6), hopefully she can settle midfield, and if she can produce that sort of run, she shouldn't be pretty hard to beat."
