Hiflyer
Kenton Wright Race Images
Peter Lock has made no secret of the regard he has for Hiflyer, who is closing in on a return to racing.
The Te Aroha trainer will be wiser in the coming days as to exactly when the Tavistock gelding will make his four-year-old debut, which in itself is causing him headaches.
"He's got his new racing plates on and on Thursday or Saturday he'll go to Matamata for a good hit-out and that will give us a good line on him," Lock said.
"He's twice as big and strong as he was – I'm very, very excited by his progress. He's probably about two weeks away from a trial or a race.
"I'm in a very awkward position though. He's a Rating 67 horse and in a Rating 65 race he'll get 61 or 62 kilos and if I go to Hastings or somewhere else for a Rating 75 he'll be on the very minimum and might not get in.
"It's difficult as I think this fellow could be my first Group One winner."
His four starts last season were rewarded with a win and three seconds, the last of his placings was at Pukekohe where he beat all but the undefeated Let Me Roar.
Hiflyer's stablemate Mr Luigi is also speeding up in his work following a break.
"He's ready to rumble. He's really thrived and doing extremely well," Lock said.
Mr Luigi has three wins and five placings from his eight starts and he was turned out after finishing runner-up at Otaki in July.
"He was going around on heavy tracks, but I think he wants better and he'll be heading toward some nice races," Lock said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Te Aroha trainer will be wiser in the coming days as to exactly when the Tavistock gelding will make his four-year-old debut, which in itself is causing him headaches.
"He's got his new racing plates on and on Thursday or Saturday he'll go to Matamata for a good hit-out and that will give us a good line on him," Lock said.
"He's twice as big and strong as he was – I'm very, very excited by his progress. He's probably about two weeks away from a trial or a race.
"I'm in a very awkward position though. He's a Rating 67 horse and in a Rating 65 race he'll get 61 or 62 kilos and if I go to Hastings or somewhere else for a Rating 75 he'll be on the very minimum and might not get in.
"It's difficult as I think this fellow could be my first Group One winner."
His four starts last season were rewarded with a win and three seconds, the last of his placings was at Pukekohe where he beat all but the undefeated Let Me Roar.
Hiflyer's stablemate Mr Luigi is also speeding up in his work following a break.
"He's ready to rumble. He's really thrived and doing extremely well," Lock said.
Mr Luigi has three wins and five placings from his eight starts and he was turned out after finishing runner-up at Otaki in July.
"He was going around on heavy tracks, but I think he wants better and he'll be heading toward some nice races," Lock said. – NZ Racing Desk.