Hasselhoof
Trish Dunell
Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs are taking a glass half full approach to Hasselhoof's interrupted Group One campaign.
The Ruakaka trainers' plans for the five-year-old's final lead-in to the Livamol Classic were dashed when they were forced to scratch him from Sunday's Listed Karaka Classic due to the heavy going at Pukekohe.
"There's nothing we can do about it and we've got the facilities here to get him ready," Logan said.
Hasselhoof was a first-up third on his home track behind his now-retired stablemate Valley Girl before he was unplaced, but less than five lengths from the winner Kawi, in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.
"We're contemplating giving him an exhibition gallop at Ellerslie on Saturday – that wouldn't hurt him, but it will depend on the track there as well," Logan said.
The ground will also have the final say on a number of three-year-olds in the stable.
"Madeira, The Soultaker, Wyndspelle and Mongolian Falcon will all be nominated for the Bonecrusher Stakes, but Mongolian Falcon definitely won't go there if it's too wet and he could go to the Hawke's Bay Guineas with Wyndspelle," Logan said.
Mongolian Falcon had earlier been tagged a possible Gr.1 VRC Derby contender, but he may now chase Blue Riband honours at home.
"Melbourne might come up a bit quickly and realistically he'd be better staying at home and heading toward the Derby here," Logan said.
However, the highly-regarded last-start winner Toorak Tower remains in the mix for a trip across the Tasman.
"He'll be nominated for the VRC Derby and he could run before that in the Geelong Classic," Logan said.
"He will run in a Rating 65 mile against the older horses at Ruakaka first and we'll decide after that whether he goes over or follows a plan through to the Derby here as well." – NZ Racing Desk.
The Ruakaka trainers' plans for the five-year-old's final lead-in to the Livamol Classic were dashed when they were forced to scratch him from Sunday's Listed Karaka Classic due to the heavy going at Pukekohe.
"There's nothing we can do about it and we've got the facilities here to get him ready," Logan said.
Hasselhoof was a first-up third on his home track behind his now-retired stablemate Valley Girl before he was unplaced, but less than five lengths from the winner Kawi, in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.
"We're contemplating giving him an exhibition gallop at Ellerslie on Saturday – that wouldn't hurt him, but it will depend on the track there as well," Logan said.
The ground will also have the final say on a number of three-year-olds in the stable.
"Madeira, The Soultaker, Wyndspelle and Mongolian Falcon will all be nominated for the Bonecrusher Stakes, but Mongolian Falcon definitely won't go there if it's too wet and he could go to the Hawke's Bay Guineas with Wyndspelle," Logan said.
Mongolian Falcon had earlier been tagged a possible Gr.1 VRC Derby contender, but he may now chase Blue Riband honours at home.
"Melbourne might come up a bit quickly and realistically he'd be better staying at home and heading toward the Derby here," Logan said.
However, the highly-regarded last-start winner Toorak Tower remains in the mix for a trip across the Tasman.
"He'll be nominated for the VRC Derby and he could run before that in the Geelong Classic," Logan said.
"He will run in a Rating 65 mile against the older horses at Ruakaka first and we'll decide after that whether he goes over or follows a plan through to the Derby here as well." – NZ Racing Desk.