Dionysus will be looking for redemption when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
The six-year-old gelding was runner-up in the Te Rapa feature behind Viktor Vegas last year and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are hoping he can go one better in this year’s edition.
While he was denied in last year’s Waikato Cup, Dionysus went on to claim his maiden Cup victory at his next start, the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day, before placing in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham later that month.
The son of Ocean Park has returned in fine fettle this preparation, running fourth first-up in the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni in September and placed last start in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe.
His handlers have been pleased with his subsequent work and are hoping for a positive result this weekend.
“His run was very good in the Counties Cup and he has come on from that,” Wellwood said.
“He comes into this in nice order. It is a small but good field, we will have to play it by ear, but we are really happy with him.”
A day prior, Kingsclere Stables will have a trio of runners at Tauranga, with Xrated, Zaboraci and Hasstobeawinner all attempting to clear maiden ranks.
Hasstobegood takes two runner-up results into the Icon Security Systems Maiden 1400 where he will be met by stablemate Xrated, who takes a trial win into her first-up assignment.
“Xrated trialled up really well and hopefully she can go nicely there. She is in good order,” Wellwood said.
“Hasstobeawinner has gone down just narrowly so it would be nice to see him turn the tables and get the job done.”
Zaboraci will line-up in the Commerce Lane Chambers Maiden (1600m), and Wellwood said he will appreciate the step-up to a mile.
“Zaboraci’s run first-up was very good without getting any luck whatsoever,” he said.
“Going further is going to suit him and if he can get any luck he will be there or thereabouts.”
