Talented miler Lingjun Xiongfeng will start his six-year-old season at Taupo, which trainer Pam Gerard hopes will provide a rating boost in the lead-up to feature summer targets.
Lingjun Xiongfeng made a big impression around this time last year with barnstorming last-to-first performances at Pukekohe on December 9 and Te Rapa two weeks later. In the latter, the grey romped home by 5.5 lengths against an open-class field that included Group One winner Asterix.
Gerard stepped Lingjun Xiongfeng up in class from there, finishing 10th in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), sixth in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), third in an open sprint at Ellerslie, fourth in the inaugural $350,000 Rangitoto Classic (1500m), ninth in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) and 13th in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m).
Lingjun Xiongfeng has been off the raceday scene since the Easter in April, but trialled at Taupo on November 26.
“I’ve been very happy with the way he’s come up in this preparation,” Gerard said. “He had that trial at Taupo last month, just for a quiet day out.
“We were hoping to get him into the J Swap Sprint (Group 3, 1400m) first-up, but he didn’t end up making the field. It’s been a bit of a challenge finding a suitable race for him, but we’ll kick him off at Taupo and then take it from there.
“He’s very forward. Taupo might be a bit of a tricky track for him, because he’s quite a long-striding horse who’s not ideally suited to those tight corners. But I couldn’t be happier with his condition.”
Lingjun Xiongfeng holds a nomination for the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 11, and Gerard is keen to make that trip if his first-up performance justifies it.
“If he happened to be impressive at Taupo, you might see him head to Wellington,” she said. “This campaign is going to be all about targeting some of those nicer miles, and potentially a bit further than that later on as well.
“It’s just difficult with his rating at the moment. He’s right down at the bottom of the open handicaps and often ends up on the ballot, while he gets too much weight in Rating 75 grade. So it’s not easy, but hopefully he can put some good performances on the board this time in and get that rating up a bit higher.”
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