Trish Dunell
Group One performer Dijon Bleu will be sticking closer to home during the summer.
She is back in work with Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta following a brief break after her gallant effort to finish runner-up behind Hasahalo in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
“She is quite a highly-strung filly, one of those that’s best doing a bit of work,” Latta said.
Dijon Bleu’s Guineas run followed victories in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1400m) and at Listed level in the Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and the O’Leary’s Fillies’ Classic (1200m).
“She’ll go to the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni and then the Desert Gold Stakes,” Latta said.
Dijon Bleu also holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Grant Plumbing Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 13.
Meanwhile, stablemate Five To Midnight will be venturing further afield to follow a similar campaign to last season which culminated in a fifth placing in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m), the Ellerslie feature in March again his target.
He has bounced back from an unplaced run in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) to finish fourth in the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) and last time out was runner-up in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).
“He had no luck at Hastings when he was caught three wide, but his last two runs have been very good,” Latta said.
Five To Midnight was placed in both the Gr.3 City of Auckland Cup (2400m) and the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) ahead of the Auckland Cup last season and they are again likely lead-up events. – NZ Racing Desk.