Race Images Palmerston North
John Bary is hoping lightning will strike twice at Tauranga on Friday.
The Hastings trainer’s promising four-year-old Hugo The Boss will make his first appearance in the Asteron Life 1200m since he was successful on the course in December.
“We’re going back to the scene of his last victory and with the same jockey Cameron Lammas,” Bary said.
A son of Stratum and a Zabeel mare, Hugo The Boss has won two of his six starts and has been working well ahead of his return.
“He’s grown up and matured now and he’s been gelded since he last raced,” Bary said.
He also has high hopes for stablemate Craggy Range, who will be partnered by Sam Collett in the John’s Photo Pharmacy 1200m.
“I’m happy with her and she’s still got a nomination for the 1000 Guineas and we haven’t given up on getting her there,” Bary said.
Craggy Range finished fifth behind Astor on debut at Taupo and was then uncomfortable in the heavy going when out of the money in last month’s Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes.
“We probably shouldn’t have run her on that track at Wanganui, but we rolled the dice,” Bary said.
He also has Van Halen in Craggy Range’s race, but is in two minds whether the Rock ‘n’ Pop three-year-old starts.
“He’s a decent horse, but it’s a long way to go to start from such a wide draw,” Bary said. – NZ Racing Desk.