A pair of talented stablemates are rated genuine prospects to add to their stakes records when they tackle feature events on their home turf on Saturday.
The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained mares Can I Get An Amen (NZ) (Hallowed Crown) and Mohaka (NZ) (Nadeem) will front up on their home Hastings track with their respective targets the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) and the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).
“They are both strong black type chances, they are both very well,” Lowry said.
Can I Get An Amen has also been in fine touch and came off a Rotorua win to finish fourth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) before she claimed the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m).
“She has been going well, she has got a nice draw and hopefully with a good ride she should be very competitive as well,” Lowry said.
“After this, she will probably head to Rotorua for a Group Three fillies and mares’ race. She ran fifth in it 12 months’ ago and she is going better than that this year.”
He was referring to the Rydges Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park on May 14.
From the family of two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins), Mohaka is in the twilight of her career and there are high hopes she can bow out on a top note.
“She’s ready to go again. She does have an awkward draw, but with a bit of luck she can be very competitive,” Lowry said.
“This is her last racing season, whether it is her last start I’m not sure just yet. She’s been a good mare and I know she’s only won the one Listed race, but she’s placed several times as well.”
The versatile Mohaka’s CV includes success in the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) and she has finished in the money in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and at Group Three level in the Trentham Stakes (2400m), Cuddle Stakes (1600m) and Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
The Nadeem six-year-old’s Listed placings have been posted in the Wanganui Guineas (1340m), Warstep Stakes (2000m) and the Zacinto Stakes (1600m).
Mohaka’s recent form has been sound with a quartet of consecutive top-four finishes before she was out of the money in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m).
The stable is also blessed with an array of promising three-year-olds with Candle (NZ) (Super Easy) and Wewillrock (NZ) (El Roca) locked in for the Gr.3 Inglis Sale Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on April 30.
Super Easy filly Candle, who is also raced by Lowry, has won two of her three starts and most recently was impressive in putting away her Rating 65 rivals at Awapuni.
Wewillrock has struck gold in two of his five appearances with successes at Taupo and Te Rapa and last time out the son of El Roca finished third in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.
“They are both going very well and that was Wewillrock’s first time going that way around and I think a lot of him,” Lowry said.
Meanwhile, Pierro three-year-old The Stoney One was unplaced last time out in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic and was a trial winner at Foxton earlier this week.
“He is a nice horse and we’re trying to get him to the Breeders’ Stakes, but I’m not sure we’ll get there because he’s a bit behind the others,” Lowry said.
“There is a three-year-old race over 1200m the week after at Hawera so he may go there.”
Ocean Park filly Podium (NZ) was a smart debut winner at Wanganui earlier this month and she is also pencilled in for the Breeders’ Stakes, although she may be border line to get a run.
“Podium has only had the one run and may not get a start so if she doesn’t make the field then we might go to Rotorua the day before,” Lowry said.
