Trish Dunell Photography
A bold showing from Inca Warrior on Saturday will earn him a return visit to the central districts.
The Byerley Park-prepared three-year-old’s first away goal is the Listed H. S. Dyke Wanganui Guineas with trainer Steven Cole keen on another road trip next month.
“As long as he runs up to expectations at Wanganui he’ll go back down for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas,” he said.
“He’s paid up for the 2000 Guineas as well, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before that.”
Inca Warrior finished in the money in all three of his two-year-old appearances and in his first start this season he comfortably beat the older horses in testing conditions at Te Aroha.
“I’m really happy with him and he’s come through his last run well, he’s improved out of it and he will get through the heavy ground at Wanganui,” Cole said.
“Since his second start we’ve had this race picked out for him, he handles the wet tracks no problem.”
While Inca Warrior has revelled under winter conditions, Cole isn’t ready to tag the horse as one dimensional.
“We tried him as an early two-year-old on top of the ground, but he was immature then so I’m not saying he won’t go on the better tracks just yet,” he said.
“We’ve got some nice three-year-olds in the stable and, at this stage, he’s right up with the best of them.” – NZ Racing Desk.