Slimline
Race Images Palmerston North
A change in race tactics has worked wonders for the Gary Vile-trained mare Slimline as she heads into Saturday's Listed Ag Challenge Stakes at Wanganui.
The decision was made to race her off the pace after her impressive first-up win this campaign and the five-year-old Castledale mare has gone on to record a win and placing in her two subsequent starts.
"Danielle Johnson rode her back when she was fresh-up this year and she stormed home, so I've kept the same tactics and they seem to have worked with her," Vile said.
"I think she has strengthened up too, finally. She's not a big robust mare, but she's strengthening up with age."
Vile has been pleased with her preparation and rates her chances in Saturday's event, although he would like to see the track improve.
"With a bit of luck the track will come back a bit, maybe a Slow 9. If it comes back to a slow track it would suit her," he said.
"Her work's been great, she's been working really well. I'd say she's got to handle weight-for-age, but I wouldn't rate it as the strongest weight-for-age field I've ever seen."
Vile said Slimline will be turned out for a month after Saturday's race and will likely target the Gr.3 Merial Mile at Awapuni in the spring.
Slimline won't be the only feature race contender Vile will line-up on Saturday. He has two nice runners in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown Stakes earlier in the day.
"Hard Merchandize is a fine young horse and he's a fast horse. He won very easily last start, but it's a different kind of field on Saturday," Vile said.
"I don't think the track will be any problem for him, if the track improves so be it, he'll be just as good on a better track. His work's been great, so I'm pretty happy with him."
Dance for Money, his other runner in the two-year-old feature, is not to be discounted after she won comfortably in her first start at Wanganui on May 17.
"She was very impressive at her first start. She's no mug, she can run this filly," Vile said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The decision was made to race her off the pace after her impressive first-up win this campaign and the five-year-old Castledale mare has gone on to record a win and placing in her two subsequent starts.
"Danielle Johnson rode her back when she was fresh-up this year and she stormed home, so I've kept the same tactics and they seem to have worked with her," Vile said.
"I think she has strengthened up too, finally. She's not a big robust mare, but she's strengthening up with age."
Vile has been pleased with her preparation and rates her chances in Saturday's event, although he would like to see the track improve.
"With a bit of luck the track will come back a bit, maybe a Slow 9. If it comes back to a slow track it would suit her," he said.
"Her work's been great, she's been working really well. I'd say she's got to handle weight-for-age, but I wouldn't rate it as the strongest weight-for-age field I've ever seen."
Vile said Slimline will be turned out for a month after Saturday's race and will likely target the Gr.3 Merial Mile at Awapuni in the spring.
Slimline won't be the only feature race contender Vile will line-up on Saturday. He has two nice runners in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown Stakes earlier in the day.
"Hard Merchandize is a fine young horse and he's a fast horse. He won very easily last start, but it's a different kind of field on Saturday," Vile said.
"I don't think the track will be any problem for him, if the track improves so be it, he'll be just as good on a better track. His work's been great, so I'm pretty happy with him."
Dance for Money, his other runner in the two-year-old feature, is not to be discounted after she won comfortably in her first start at Wanganui on May 17.
"She was very impressive at her first start. She's no mug, she can run this filly," Vile said. – NZ Racing Desk.