Balham
Trish Dunell
Balham is exceeding expectations in the early stages of his feature cups campaign.
The Don Eduardo gelding's fifth placing when resuming in an open mile at Hastings following a four month break delighted his connections.
"We were thrilled with him – we didn't really expect him to do too much at 1600 metres," said Emma Haworth, who trains the six-year-old with her father David.
"He got stuck on the rail in the worst of the ground and Mark (Du Plessis) was really pleased with him.
A four-time winner from 16 starts, Balham will return to Hawke's Bay on Saturday for the Aon Insurance Brokers 2000.
"He'll have one or two more starts after that and his main aim will be the New Zealand Cup," Haworth said.
Consecutive successes over 2500 metres at Hastings and over 2400 metres at Te Rapa at the end of his last campaign provided encouragement of his ability to master the 3200 metres of the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino-sponsored feature at Riccarton on November 12.
"He's really grown up now and matured," Haworth said. "He's a different horse – he was still quite weak last year."
The stable are also expecting further progress from Diamond Cut, also a four race winner from limited appearances, following recent surgery.
"She had a little operation on an entrapped epiglottis so she'll be back in a month," Haworth said.
"It's going to help her hugely – it was restricting her breathing so we don't know how good she can be now." – NZ Racing Desk.
The Don Eduardo gelding's fifth placing when resuming in an open mile at Hastings following a four month break delighted his connections.
"We were thrilled with him – we didn't really expect him to do too much at 1600 metres," said Emma Haworth, who trains the six-year-old with her father David.
"He got stuck on the rail in the worst of the ground and Mark (Du Plessis) was really pleased with him.
A four-time winner from 16 starts, Balham will return to Hawke's Bay on Saturday for the Aon Insurance Brokers 2000.
"He'll have one or two more starts after that and his main aim will be the New Zealand Cup," Haworth said.
Consecutive successes over 2500 metres at Hastings and over 2400 metres at Te Rapa at the end of his last campaign provided encouragement of his ability to master the 3200 metres of the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino-sponsored feature at Riccarton on November 12.
"He's really grown up now and matured," Haworth said. "He's a different horse – he was still quite weak last year."
The stable are also expecting further progress from Diamond Cut, also a four race winner from limited appearances, following recent surgery.
"She had a little operation on an entrapped epiglottis so she'll be back in a month," Haworth said.
"It's going to help her hugely – it was restricting her breathing so we don't know how good she can be now." – NZ Racing Desk.