Freegoing five-year-old Leroy Brown (NZ) (Ace High) will be chasing a crack at a weight-for-age feature when he resumes at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The talented son of Ace High returns to action in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Handicap (1200m), and success would firm up plans for a return in two weeks’ time in a bid for higher honours.
“We want to have a go at the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) and we’re behind the eight ball a bit on the ratings,” trainer Stephen Ralph said.
“It will be a tough field on Saturday and hopefully we can get a good result and then chase the Foxbridge, that’s our first aim.”
The gelding is a five-time winner, with his latest victory in the autumn posted at Matamata at the expense of Val Di Zoldo, who landed the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) and Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at her next two starts.
Leroy Brown subsequently finished midfield in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) before a break and was a comfortable winner of his open 900m heat at Monday’s Taupo trials.
“He’s a bit older and his mental game has undone him in the past, he tended to want to do things too early and that affected his breathing, but we feel he’s a lot better now,” Ralph said.
“He’s absolutely perfect in his trackwork and I feel he is progressing well.”
Leroy Brown was partnered at the trials by Gareth Lahoud, who will take the mount again on Saturday.
“We think Gareth is a really talented rider, it’s a tough field with Twain and Force Of Nature there, but he’s got a good draw (one),” Ralph said.
“I know he has won on a heavy track before, but he really does like it better than that so that’s what we’re hoping for.”
Raced by breeders Parsons Bloodstock, Leroy Brown could also be in line for an overseas trip if his form warrants raising the bar.
“We would like to think he can pick up a decent black-type race here, Keith (Parsons) and I are keen to get to Australia with him,” Ralph said.
“If he can keep ticking boxes then we might get there, maybe Sydney in the autumn.
“If he came up really well, we could get to Melbourne, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge to see where he can get to.”