Passing Shot
Trish Dunell
A multiple stakes-winning sprinter is speeding up in his preparation to take on Australia's leading short course performers.
Trainers Stephen McKee and Eddie Chippendale have black type aspirations across the Tasman for the talented Passing Shot.
"We'll probably take him to Melbourne in August, there are plenty of 1000 to 1400 metres races for him," McKee said.
"He'll probably trial here first and if his form warrants it the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is one race we would be looking at."
The Group One 1400 metre handicap will be run at Caulfield on September 24.
The winner of the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy last season, Passing Shot hasn't raced since he claimed the Listed NZB Finance Sprint off the back of his Listed victory in the Lightning Handicap.
Meanwhile, the Hawke's Bay spring carnival is likely to present Passing Shot's gifted stablemate Xiong Feng with the first major test of his three-year-old career.
"He will probably have a run at Ruakaka toward the end of August and then we'll be looking toward the Hawke's Bay Guineas," McKee said.
Xiong Feng won his first two juvenile starts on rain-affected going before adding the Listed Karaka Million on a good Ellerslie track to his record.
"Originally, he looked like he needed the cut out of the ground, but as he matured he showed he could handle better ground," McKee said.
Xiong Feng suffered his only defeat when he struck himself in the early stages of the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes and was unplaced. – NZ Racing Desk.
Trainers Stephen McKee and Eddie Chippendale have black type aspirations across the Tasman for the talented Passing Shot.
"We'll probably take him to Melbourne in August, there are plenty of 1000 to 1400 metres races for him," McKee said.
"He'll probably trial here first and if his form warrants it the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is one race we would be looking at."
The Group One 1400 metre handicap will be run at Caulfield on September 24.
The winner of the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy last season, Passing Shot hasn't raced since he claimed the Listed NZB Finance Sprint off the back of his Listed victory in the Lightning Handicap.
Meanwhile, the Hawke's Bay spring carnival is likely to present Passing Shot's gifted stablemate Xiong Feng with the first major test of his three-year-old career.
"He will probably have a run at Ruakaka toward the end of August and then we'll be looking toward the Hawke's Bay Guineas," McKee said.
Xiong Feng won his first two juvenile starts on rain-affected going before adding the Listed Karaka Million on a good Ellerslie track to his record.
"Originally, he looked like he needed the cut out of the ground, but as he matured he showed he could handle better ground," McKee said.
Xiong Feng suffered his only defeat when he struck himself in the early stages of the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes and was unplaced. – NZ Racing Desk.
