Vanilla Moon
Race Images Palmerston North
A patient approach may bring the connections of Vanilla Moon further success when the talented mare resumes at Hastings.
Trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott resisted the temptation to run the Rip Van Winkle four-year-old from a wide gate at Ellerslie on Saturday in favour of the Dunstan Feeds Rising Stars Championship Qualifier on Thursday.
"She drew wide and we thought it would be too tough from out there in her first run around Ellerslie," Scott said.
"She looks quite well-placed at Hawke's Bay and she has been working really well."
Vanilla Moon was unbeaten in her first two starts at Matamata last season before she finished sixth on a Premier day at Te Rapa, after which she was spelled. She has had two trial outings to prepare her for her return.
"If she puts her best foot forward then she is going to be pretty competitive," Scott said.
He also warned punters to disregard the most recent performance of Vanilla Moon's stablemate Feisty Lady when weighing up her chances in the Animal Health Direct 1200 Maiden.
"She got interfered with in the straight so she had a legitimate excuse to weaken out of it," Scott said.
Feisty Lady, who has finished runner-up three times in her five-start career, ran seventh at Te Rapa after the home straight incident, which cost Leith Innes a four day suspension for careless riding.
"She's coming back in trip at Hastings and we think 1200 metres is probably as far as she wants to go at this stage," Scott said.
"It is a weaker field and she's definitely a good chance." – NZ Racing Desk.
Trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott resisted the temptation to run the Rip Van Winkle four-year-old from a wide gate at Ellerslie on Saturday in favour of the Dunstan Feeds Rising Stars Championship Qualifier on Thursday.
"She drew wide and we thought it would be too tough from out there in her first run around Ellerslie," Scott said.
"She looks quite well-placed at Hawke's Bay and she has been working really well."
Vanilla Moon was unbeaten in her first two starts at Matamata last season before she finished sixth on a Premier day at Te Rapa, after which she was spelled. She has had two trial outings to prepare her for her return.
"If she puts her best foot forward then she is going to be pretty competitive," Scott said.
He also warned punters to disregard the most recent performance of Vanilla Moon's stablemate Feisty Lady when weighing up her chances in the Animal Health Direct 1200 Maiden.
"She got interfered with in the straight so she had a legitimate excuse to weaken out of it," Scott said.
Feisty Lady, who has finished runner-up three times in her five-start career, ran seventh at Te Rapa after the home straight incident, which cost Leith Innes a four day suspension for careless riding.
"She's coming back in trip at Hastings and we think 1200 metres is probably as far as she wants to go at this stage," Scott said.
"It is a weaker field and she's definitely a good chance." – NZ Racing Desk.