Five To Midnight
Race Images Palmerston North
Black type performer Five To Midnight looks a stayer to follow this preparation following his perfect return to racing at Hawera on Saturday.
He drew serious attention to his future prospects with a comprehensive defeat of his Rating 75 rivals in the Andersons Pies 1600.
"He has come back very well," rider Darryl Bradley said. "He has strengthened and improved ability-wise."
Bradley has been the regular rider of the Lisa Latta-trained gelding and last season they beat the older horses over ground before finishing second in the Listed New Zealand St Leger and in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic behind the subsequent Gr.1 Livamol Classic runner-up Humidor.
Five To Midnight was put aside after an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie, where he was hampered by a fallen runner.
"He trialled well and I didn't expect him to win, so to do what he's done today just shows how good he is," Bradley said.
Five To Midnight settled off the pace before he unleashed wide on the track with an undeniable finishing run that saw him sail clear to score by a length and three-quarters.
"He had a good campaign last time and Lisa is looking at some of the cup races," stable representative Andy Rennie said.
"He paraded really well today and it was a lovely ride by Darryl."
The favourite Art Deco was given every chance in the trail by apprentice Alfred Chan and they fought on for second ahead of the pacemaker Watch Your Man and the runner-up's stablemate Carlow cut the corner to come from the back for fourth. – NZ Racing Desk.
He drew serious attention to his future prospects with a comprehensive defeat of his Rating 75 rivals in the Andersons Pies 1600.
"He has come back very well," rider Darryl Bradley said. "He has strengthened and improved ability-wise."
Bradley has been the regular rider of the Lisa Latta-trained gelding and last season they beat the older horses over ground before finishing second in the Listed New Zealand St Leger and in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic behind the subsequent Gr.1 Livamol Classic runner-up Humidor.
Five To Midnight was put aside after an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie, where he was hampered by a fallen runner.
"He trialled well and I didn't expect him to win, so to do what he's done today just shows how good he is," Bradley said.
Five To Midnight settled off the pace before he unleashed wide on the track with an undeniable finishing run that saw him sail clear to score by a length and three-quarters.
"He had a good campaign last time and Lisa is looking at some of the cup races," stable representative Andy Rennie said.
"He paraded really well today and it was a lovely ride by Darryl."
The favourite Art Deco was given every chance in the trail by apprentice Alfred Chan and they fought on for second ahead of the pacemaker Watch Your Man and the runner-up's stablemate Carlow cut the corner to come from the back for fourth. – NZ Racing Desk.