Chocante
Trish Dunell
Staying star Chocante is likely to be sent for a break after injury counted him out of the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup at the weekend.
"He was ready to go on Saturday, but then they called the races off and on Saturday night he whacked his leg," trainer Stephen Marsh said.
"Having missed a run he couldn't go 2400 metres in the City of Auckland Cup. I'm pretty relaxed and we might just put him out now and bring him back for the autumn.
"He's going to be a lot better with the jar out of the tracks anyway."
Chocante has come a long way in a short time with three wins, including victory in the Gr.3 Counties Cup in his open class debut, from four starts in the spring.
"He's an exciting horse and some time out will only help him even more," Marsh said.
Chocante is a possible candidate next year for a trip to Sydney, the confirmed target for stablemate and last season's Gr.1 ATC Oaks winner Sofia Rosa.
"She'll kick off in the NRM Sprint in February and the obvious goal for her would be the Queen Elizabeth Stakes," Marsh said.
"As long as she comes up well that's the race to have a crack at. She never came up at all in the spring, but she looks fantastic now."
Meanwhile, another Sydney hopeful is Serious Satire, who will step out at Ellerslie next Monday.
"She'll run in the Rating 85 over 1400m if she makes the field or in the Rating 75 over 1200 and we'll be looking at the Thorndon Mile at Trentham with her," Marsh said.
Last season's Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes winner returned from a break for an impressive last-start victory at Ellerslie. – NZ Racing Desk.
"He was ready to go on Saturday, but then they called the races off and on Saturday night he whacked his leg," trainer Stephen Marsh said.
"Having missed a run he couldn't go 2400 metres in the City of Auckland Cup. I'm pretty relaxed and we might just put him out now and bring him back for the autumn.
"He's going to be a lot better with the jar out of the tracks anyway."
Chocante has come a long way in a short time with three wins, including victory in the Gr.3 Counties Cup in his open class debut, from four starts in the spring.
"He's an exciting horse and some time out will only help him even more," Marsh said.
Chocante is a possible candidate next year for a trip to Sydney, the confirmed target for stablemate and last season's Gr.1 ATC Oaks winner Sofia Rosa.
"She'll kick off in the NRM Sprint in February and the obvious goal for her would be the Queen Elizabeth Stakes," Marsh said.
"As long as she comes up well that's the race to have a crack at. She never came up at all in the spring, but she looks fantastic now."
Meanwhile, another Sydney hopeful is Serious Satire, who will step out at Ellerslie next Monday.
"She'll run in the Rating 85 over 1400m if she makes the field or in the Rating 75 over 1200 and we'll be looking at the Thorndon Mile at Trentham with her," Marsh said.
Last season's Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes winner returned from a break for an impressive last-start victory at Ellerslie. – NZ Racing Desk.