The Jomara Bloodstock bred and raced Geneva (NZ) (Time Test) is primed for a bold showing in Saturday’s Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), according to trainer Kylie Hoskin.
After winning on debut over 1100m at Te Rapa in May, the son of Time Test had a freshen-up over winter and resumed with a fourth placing when a short-priced favourite in last month’s Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on an unsuitable Heavy9 surface at Ruakaka.
He subsequently galloped at Ellerslie last Thursday and Hoskin is excited about his prospects in Saturday’s three-year-old feature at Ellerslie, which was rated a Soft5 on Tuesday morning.
“He has come through that run at Ruakaka no problems, it was just way too wet for him and he just went up and down,” Hoskin said.
“He went to Ellerslie and had a gallop on Thursday and galloped really well for Matt Cameron (jockey).
“He will ride him in the Colin Meads on Saturday, and we are expecting a much better performance on a better surface.”
Stablemate Quality Time (Amaron) also pleased at Ellerslie last Thursday when winning his star-studded 1100m trial, beating the likes of multiple Group One winner El Vencedor.
“He went really well, I was absolutely rapt with him,” Hoskin said. “To beat that quality of horse is really good.
“We are looking at the Open 1400m at Ellerslie on the 20th with him and then maybe the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) if the weather was good. If he keeps coming up the way he is, there is also the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) at Riccarton, which might be right up his alley as well.”
Meanwhile, Hoskin will head north to Ruakaka on Wednesday where she will be represented by two runners, including promising three-year-old Oratia Beauty (Too Darn Hot) in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 1200.
The daughter of Too Darn Hot was runner-up on debut over 1200m at Pukekohe in June and readied for Wednesday’s assignment with a runner-up trial performance over 1150m at Waipa last week.
“She had a short break after her first start at Pukekohe and then we trialled her last week at Waipa and she went very nicely,” Hoskin said.
“It would have been nicer to draw in a little more than that (10), but she drew out a bit in her trial as well and Michael (McNab, jockey) ended up getting her into a nice spot, so hopefully he can do something similar.
“He likes her, so it’s great to have him back on.”
If she performs up to expectations on Wednesday, a tilt at the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie later this month could be on the cards.
“We are looking at the 1400m fillies race on the 20th at Ellerslie,” Hoskin said. “She would obviously need to put her hand up tomorrow, but I think she is a filly with plenty of ability, so I do think she will find herself in a nice race somewhere this season.”
She will be joined on the float trip north by stablemate Fun Never Sets (NZ) (Proisir), who will kick off her spring preparation in The Warkworth Inn 1400.
“She has just drawn an awful barrier (13) again,” Hoskin said. “We have been trying to get her to the races for a couple of meetings now, but it is either raining or she has a horrible barrier.
“We are likely to start her tomorrow, but she is going to need the run and is probably not going to get much luck from out there.”