Gasoline (Pluck)
Photo - Trish Dunell
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman enjoyed Group One two-year-old success last season and confidence is growing in their prospects of a repeat this term.
The Cambridge trainers won the Diamond Stakes with Dal Cielo and stablemate Gasoline is likely to defend the stable's title after showing his best with a convincing win in the Coca-Cola 1100 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"We'll see how he comes through this race and ideally we would like to freshen him up and come back for the Sires' Produce here and then on to Manawatu," Forsman said.
Gasoline, who races for the same connections as his Group One-winning stablemate Turn Me Loose, was a beaten favourite when he finished runner-up on debut at Te Rapa and the addition of blinkers put his mind firmly on the job at Ellerslie.
The colt raced outside the leader before taking control early in the run home and held a strong gallop to score by two and a quarter lengths under Opie Bosson.
"He's got a great temperament and he's always been a natural from day one and a step ahead of the others," Forsman said.
Gasoline proved too strong for an improved I Am Gracie and the well-backed first starter Mongolian Falcon came from the back to take third and is expected to derive benefit from the experience.
"He's a big colt and he's an extremely good horse – he's got the gears," said Chris Gibbs, who trains him with Donna Logan. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge trainers won the Diamond Stakes with Dal Cielo and stablemate Gasoline is likely to defend the stable's title after showing his best with a convincing win in the Coca-Cola 1100 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"We'll see how he comes through this race and ideally we would like to freshen him up and come back for the Sires' Produce here and then on to Manawatu," Forsman said.
Gasoline, who races for the same connections as his Group One-winning stablemate Turn Me Loose, was a beaten favourite when he finished runner-up on debut at Te Rapa and the addition of blinkers put his mind firmly on the job at Ellerslie.
The colt raced outside the leader before taking control early in the run home and held a strong gallop to score by two and a quarter lengths under Opie Bosson.
"He's got a great temperament and he's always been a natural from day one and a step ahead of the others," Forsman said.
Gasoline proved too strong for an improved I Am Gracie and the well-backed first starter Mongolian Falcon came from the back to take third and is expected to derive benefit from the experience.
"He's a big colt and he's an extremely good horse – he's got the gears," said Chris Gibbs, who trains him with Donna Logan. – NZ Racing Desk.