An impressive hit-out at the Foxton trials has given the connections of Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) a vote of confidence ahead of Saturday’s CR Grace LTD And Waterforce 1200 at Trentham.
The Group Three-winning son of Derryn won under similar conditions at the course back in May before striking a series of wide trips including last start in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).
His trainer Erin Hocquard was pleased with how her charge pulled up from the tough run, opting to head back to the trials to take the edge off before his next assignment.
The class horse of his 850m heat, Spencer flew the gates in the hands of Kavish Chowdhoory and was never headed, cruising down to the line under his own steam to take the trial ahead of French Doll (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
“I was happy with that, you’d hope he’d do it pretty easily and it was a nice little hit-out before Saturday,” Hocquard said. “It’s been a little while between races and he seems to do pretty well, he gets above himself fairly quickly.
“He gets a bit of weight on, so hopefully that will trim him up pretty nicely.”
Spencer will share the 62kg topweight alongside resuming mare Marotiri Molly, but will have his impost reduced by four-kilogram claimer Sienna Brown.
“I’ll definitely go for a claim with that weight, Sienna Brown will ride him again after she rode him two starts back at Te Rapa and ran third,” Hocquard said.
Hocquard will have a pair of runners in the final event of the 10-race meeting, with Black Orlov (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) and recent addition Trainwreck (NZ) (Fabulous) both accepting into the H&T Agronomics And Agricom 1600m.
A seven-year-old by Fabulous, Trainwreck has won two races in the care of former trainer and part-owner Rochelle Lockett, who entrusted Hocquard with his training whilst she is out of action.
“I’ve had him for a couple of weeks, I’m helping Rochelle out because she has recently had shoulder surgery,” Hocquard said. “She might be out for a little while.
“He’s run well at a mile before so hopefully he goes well on Saturday.”
His new stablemate Black Orlov will be looking to bounce back from a rodeo-style performance last start at Otaki, the mare seeming to attempt to buck early before settling into stride, but by that time the race was all but over for her.
“She’s never bucked a day in her life, I don’t even think she knows how to because they weren’t even proper bucks,” Hocquard said. “I think if she’d properly bucked, we might’ve had to go back to the trials.
“She’s come away from it fine so hopefully she’ll be better on the weekend.”
