Valley Girl
Trish Dunell
When asked if he could split Hasselhoof and Valley Girl ahead of their resuming runs on Saturday, co-trainer Chris Gibbs marginally favoured the latter.
The high-class stablemates will clash in the Harcourts Optimize Group Open at Ruakaka to kick start campaigns aimed at much loftier targets.
"They are pretty much on a par, but if I had to choose one it would be the mare," said Gibbs, who prepares the duo with Donna Logan.
"She might be a touch more forward because she is the one that is a definite runner in the Makfi. We looked at trialling them, but the tracks have been too miserable."
A decision on the spring direction that Valley Girl, who hasn't raced since she ran sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks, will take will be made after the August 27 feature at Hastings.
"We'll decide after that whether she heads to Australia or we carry on here," Gibbs said.
The ultimate goal in Melbourne would be the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup on October 15.
"There are other options and if we dropped back a touch there's the Matriarch Stakes – it's still great money," Gibbs said.
The Melbourne spring carnival isn't in the picture at this stage for Hasselhoof, who is being aimed the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate on September 17 and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic a fortnight later.
"We covered ourselves a little bit and nominated him for the Makfi as well – rain would bring him into that," Gibbs said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The high-class stablemates will clash in the Harcourts Optimize Group Open at Ruakaka to kick start campaigns aimed at much loftier targets.
"They are pretty much on a par, but if I had to choose one it would be the mare," said Gibbs, who prepares the duo with Donna Logan.
"She might be a touch more forward because she is the one that is a definite runner in the Makfi. We looked at trialling them, but the tracks have been too miserable."
A decision on the spring direction that Valley Girl, who hasn't raced since she ran sixth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks, will take will be made after the August 27 feature at Hastings.
"We'll decide after that whether she heads to Australia or we carry on here," Gibbs said.
The ultimate goal in Melbourne would be the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup on October 15.
"There are other options and if we dropped back a touch there's the Matriarch Stakes – it's still great money," Gibbs said.
The Melbourne spring carnival isn't in the picture at this stage for Hasselhoof, who is being aimed the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate on September 17 and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic a fortnight later.
"We covered ourselves a little bit and nominated him for the Makfi as well – rain would bring him into that," Gibbs said. – NZ Racing Desk.