Trish Dunell
Sleeping Beauty has taken her unbeaten record for the season to the spelling paddock.
The five-year-old was untested when she successfully resumed at Te Awamutu in September before she romped home by six lengths at Ellerslie and ended her campaign with another runaway victory at Matamata.
The Sir Peter Vela-owned Sleeping Beauty now owns the tidy record of five wins and three placings from 10 starts to put her on the verge of black type company when she returns from a break.
“We decided to give her a spell now, she raced right through the winter as well so she’s done a really good job,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the daughter of Rip Van Winkle with Lance O’Sullivan.
“She wasn’t performing in training up to her usual high standards so she deserves a break.
“Sir Peter said she had done extremely well, she’s won her last four starts, and we all decided not to go to the well too often with her.
“It’s a good time for her to go to the paddock with the weather, hopefully, on the turn.”
Stablemate Vanilla Moon is another Rip Van Winkle mare who is winning her way toward higher honours.
“She’s fashioning a really good record as well,” Scott said. “Her performances have been encouraging and we think she can get through to black type level.”
Vanilla Moon has won four times from nine appearances, including two successes at Pukekohe Park and Taupo from her last three starts. – NZ Racing Desk.