Longchamp
Trish Dunell Photography
Defending his Listed Opunake Cup title and another tilt at the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy are high on the priority list for talented Wairarapa sprinter Longchamp, trainer Andrew Campbell has revealed.
The Tavistock five-year-old returns to racing at Trentham on Saturday, tackling the Jennian Homes Handicap (1200m) without the benefit of a trial or a jump-out.
"He's come up pretty well and he always goes well fresh, but I would have preferred to have had a trial or jump-out under his belt," Campbell said.
"Trouble is that it's been pretty wet and they've canned them, which hasn't been ideal. But I still think he's forward enough to run a good race."
Longchamp has won six of his 19 starts, but hasn't raced since an unplaced run in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January.
He was in terrific form this time last year, unbeaten in three runs through June and July, culminating in his win in the Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth.
From there, Longchamp was fifth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last August then ran a gallant fourth in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings, a race renamed to the Tarzino Trophy for next season.
"That's his main aim. He nearly pulled it off last year so we'll head back to that providing he gets the cut out of the track," Campbell said.
"He's had knee issues his whole life, but I'd say he's the soundest he's ever been at the moment. He's still day-to-day so we never get too far ahead of ourselves, but that's the plan. I'd say he'd have one more after Saturday before the Opunake Cup and we'll consider the Winter Cup as well."
As well as Longchamp, Campbell will produce two promising two-year-olds on Saturday, with Waldorf contesting the Virkon 1200 at Te Rapa as the only race winner in the field and debutante Getty tackling the Platinum Homes Taranaki 2yo Maiden (1000m) at Trentham.
"Waldorf won his first race last year and ran second at his second start [in the Listed Wellesley Stakes], had no luck at his next start [in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes] and then got galloped on at the start of the Karaka Million," Campbell said.
"We're sending him up north trying to get a better track. He should go well. He's a pretty smart horse.
"We think a lot of Getty too. He had a trial and then we turned him out for 10 days. I like the horse and think he's forward enough to go a bold race. We like to think they could both head toward races like the Ryder Stakes and Wanganui Guineas and then follow the three-year-old races through.
"Both handle the wet tracks so we thought we'd get them up and going early." - NZ Racing Desk.
The Tavistock five-year-old returns to racing at Trentham on Saturday, tackling the Jennian Homes Handicap (1200m) without the benefit of a trial or a jump-out.
"He's come up pretty well and he always goes well fresh, but I would have preferred to have had a trial or jump-out under his belt," Campbell said.
"Trouble is that it's been pretty wet and they've canned them, which hasn't been ideal. But I still think he's forward enough to run a good race."
Longchamp has won six of his 19 starts, but hasn't raced since an unplaced run in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January.
He was in terrific form this time last year, unbeaten in three runs through June and July, culminating in his win in the Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth.
From there, Longchamp was fifth in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last August then ran a gallant fourth in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings, a race renamed to the Tarzino Trophy for next season.
"That's his main aim. He nearly pulled it off last year so we'll head back to that providing he gets the cut out of the track," Campbell said.
"He's had knee issues his whole life, but I'd say he's the soundest he's ever been at the moment. He's still day-to-day so we never get too far ahead of ourselves, but that's the plan. I'd say he'd have one more after Saturday before the Opunake Cup and we'll consider the Winter Cup as well."
As well as Longchamp, Campbell will produce two promising two-year-olds on Saturday, with Waldorf contesting the Virkon 1200 at Te Rapa as the only race winner in the field and debutante Getty tackling the Platinum Homes Taranaki 2yo Maiden (1000m) at Trentham.
"Waldorf won his first race last year and ran second at his second start [in the Listed Wellesley Stakes], had no luck at his next start [in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes] and then got galloped on at the start of the Karaka Million," Campbell said.
"We're sending him up north trying to get a better track. He should go well. He's a pretty smart horse.
"We think a lot of Getty too. He had a trial and then we turned him out for 10 days. I like the horse and think he's forward enough to go a bold race. We like to think they could both head toward races like the Ryder Stakes and Wanganui Guineas and then follow the three-year-old races through.
"Both handle the wet tracks so we thought we'd get them up and going early." - NZ Racing Desk.