Longchamp
Race Images Palmerston North
Andrew Campbell is keeping his southern options open with the talented but unsound Longchamp.
The Opaki trainer has to tread a careful path with the Tavistock four-year-old who doesn't hold an entry for the Gr.3 eStar Winter Cup, although that could change in the near future.
"He's a day to day proposition with his knee problems," Campbell said.
"He could go to the Opunake Cup and if he won that, or went very well, then we could put in a late nomination.
"We'll see what happens, but he has been up a while and there's always the spring. He's not a true heavy track horse – he won first-up at Tauherenikau on a firm track and broke the track record, but it did take him some time to get over that race."
In the meantime, Longchamp has an opportunity at Otaki on Friday to further lift his rating when he makes his open class debut in the Voyle & Co's Visionary 1300.
The gelding will be ridden by apprentice Timothy Johnson, who was given a healthy pat on the back by Campbell for his handling of Longchamp when they successfully combined at Wanganui earlier this month.
"He rode him a treat so he deserves another go," Campbell said. "The horse has come through the race super so hopefully he'll go close again."
Longchamp, who as a three-year-old was placed behind Turn Me Loose in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, has also previously won on the Otaki course. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Opaki trainer has to tread a careful path with the Tavistock four-year-old who doesn't hold an entry for the Gr.3 eStar Winter Cup, although that could change in the near future.
"He's a day to day proposition with his knee problems," Campbell said.
"He could go to the Opunake Cup and if he won that, or went very well, then we could put in a late nomination.
"We'll see what happens, but he has been up a while and there's always the spring. He's not a true heavy track horse – he won first-up at Tauherenikau on a firm track and broke the track record, but it did take him some time to get over that race."
In the meantime, Longchamp has an opportunity at Otaki on Friday to further lift his rating when he makes his open class debut in the Voyle & Co's Visionary 1300.
The gelding will be ridden by apprentice Timothy Johnson, who was given a healthy pat on the back by Campbell for his handling of Longchamp when they successfully combined at Wanganui earlier this month.
"He rode him a treat so he deserves another go," Campbell said. "The horse has come through the race super so hopefully he'll go close again."
Longchamp, who as a three-year-old was placed behind Turn Me Loose in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, has also previously won on the Otaki course. – NZ Racing Desk.