A couple of New Zealand’s feature two-mile contests are in the offing for Palmerston North stayer Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino) this season, but track conditions will play a key part in those plans.
The six-year-old son of Tarzino had a pleasing summer preparation last term, headlined by his runner-up performance behind Wolfgang in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January.
The gelding made his first public appearance of the new season when trialling over 1000m at Awapuni’s newly-renovated grass track, finishing runner-up behind stablemate Showbastian Coe (NZ) (Showcasing).
Trainer Mike Breslin was pleased with his hit-out and believes he is in career-best condition heading into the spring.
“I think he is coming up the best of his life,” he said.
The Wellington Cup once again looms as an obvious target, but Breslin is weighing up between the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton Park in November or the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa a month later as his other major test.
“Ultimately, another go at the Wellington Cup is definitely on the cards,” he said.
“I’ll probably see how he goes in his first couple of runs back and keep an eye on the weather down south because he doesn’t like it really hard.
“He will be an outside New Zealand Cup candidate if there is going to be a bit of cut in the track. He is not a horse I would back-up down there, he would go down just for the New Zealand Cup.
“There is lead-up racing here, otherwise I think a race like the Waikato Cup is an option for him over 2400m.”
Breslin, who also part-owns the gelding, has taken a patient approach with his charge, and he is now starting to reap the rewards.
“He is a bit of a slower-maturing type of horse, but he has always shown ability,” he said. “He has shown that he is up to our open handicappers, and I think he has come up better this time, and hopefully he can win a decent race.”
Breslin was pleased to be back trialling on Awapuni’s turf track on Tuesday after its first meeting back after 18 months of refurbishment was abandoned after a slip in the first race on ANZAC Day.
The track has undergone subsequent remedial work and passed its first test on Tuesday.
“We have all got our fingers crossed to get racing back on the grass at Awapuni, it is essential for our businesses,” Breslin said.
“I think the track will be superb, but in my opinion, it is just going to have to be gently-gently until they get some decent spring growth.”
While a trip south to Christchurch for New Zealand Cup Week is on the cards for Crouch, he could be joined on the float trip by stablemate Intention (NZ) (Bivouac).
The three-year-old daughter of Bivouac showed plenty of ability as a juvenile, winning the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at just her second start before placing in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m).
Her starting manners were a major obstacle last season, and Breslin is hoping he has gotten on top of those issues heading into her three-year-old term.
“She did a bit wrong at the start of her races, but she won a Group Two, and she was placed in another stakes race, and even in the Sires’ Produce (Gr.1, 1400m) I think she had the fastest last 400m that day (when fifth).
“Her slow starts have just been hindering her against the best two-year-olds, so she needs to overcome that.
“She has had two trials and we have been really happy with them. If she can just overcome those barrier woes at the start and then we will get a good line on if she is up to the best fillies this year, and if she is, we will hopefully get down to Riccarton for the 1000 Guineas.”
Intention will begin her path towards the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Taupo on Sunday where she will contest the Taupo Pak ‘N Save (1100m) first-up.
She will be joined on the float trip north by stablemate Call A Friend (NZ) (Akeed Mofeed), who will contest the MVS Equine (1800m).
“Call A Friend hasn’t had a lot of luck in her last couple of starts and is better than her form suggests,” Breslin said. “Both should hopefully be handy chances.”
