El Pescado
Trish Dunell
El Pescado is in top order ahead of a return visit to Hastings on Saturday, according to his trainer Stuart Manning.
The lightly-tried six-year-old will again take on Kawi in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate after finishing runner-up to the country's star weight-for-age performer in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.
"I think he's better now, I couldn't be any happier with him," Manning said. "He's all good, but then I suppose all the others will be too."
He will also be over the moon if the rain forecast for Hawke's Bay arrives.
"That would suit us a lot better than the rest," Manning said. "He doesn't want it heavy or anything, just a bit of cut in the ground and I'll be clapping my hands if it does rain on the day."
El Pescado went into the Makfi off the back of a resuming win in an open sprint at Rotorua, his first appearance since finishing a creditable seventh in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
"Getting back to the mile on Saturday will only help him as well," Manning said. "He's won over it before."
Depending on his performance at the weekend, the Frank and Faye Drummond-bred and raced gelding may head back to Hastings for the last leg of the Triple Crown series, the Gr.1 Livamol Classic.
"He'd be a late nomination, but if he goes well again he's paid for that himself," Manning said.
"He's never raced over a distance, but to me he's a horse that will get out over a bit of ground without a problem." – NZ Racing Desk.
The lightly-tried six-year-old will again take on Kawi in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate after finishing runner-up to the country's star weight-for-age performer in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.
"I think he's better now, I couldn't be any happier with him," Manning said. "He's all good, but then I suppose all the others will be too."
He will also be over the moon if the rain forecast for Hawke's Bay arrives.
"That would suit us a lot better than the rest," Manning said. "He doesn't want it heavy or anything, just a bit of cut in the ground and I'll be clapping my hands if it does rain on the day."
El Pescado went into the Makfi off the back of a resuming win in an open sprint at Rotorua, his first appearance since finishing a creditable seventh in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
"Getting back to the mile on Saturday will only help him as well," Manning said. "He's won over it before."
Depending on his performance at the weekend, the Frank and Faye Drummond-bred and raced gelding may head back to Hastings for the last leg of the Triple Crown series, the Gr.1 Livamol Classic.
"He'd be a late nomination, but if he goes well again he's paid for that himself," Manning said.
"He's never raced over a distance, but to me he's a horse that will get out over a bit of ground without a problem." – NZ Racing Desk.