Trish Dunell
An overseas trip hasn’t been ruled out for Awapuni black type contender Bel Ragazzo.
His performance in Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2000m) will decide the remainder of his three-year-old future.
“If he happened to win impressively then we might look at the South Australian Derby, but I’m probably leaning toward turning him out,” trainer Shane Crawford said.
“I’m really happy with the horse, he’s just got to grow up a little bit and since the Derby he’s really come on. I’m quite confident he will run well.
Bel Ragazzo beat the older horses when he broke his maiden ahead of an unplaced run in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
“He copped all the interference available, but he learned a lot so we’ll see what happens on the weekend.”