A trip across the Tasman could be on the cards for Belclare, with the Lisa Latta-trained mare set to chase a $1 million bonus on offer if successful in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 4.
The daughter of Per Incanto became eligible for the bonus following her win in the Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe in April, and her connections are keen to take their shot.
Belclare has pleased Latta in her two public appearances this preparation, particularly with her runner-up effort to Times Ticking in her 1000m heat at Awapuni’s synthetic trials on Tuesday.
“I am really happy with her, she has trialled up well,” Latta said.
“She may well head to the Taupo trials next Wednesday just to have another hit-out on a grass track. She is coming to hand nicely and we are just looking for the tracks to improve for her.”
While the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival remains her initial objective this spring, the allure of the A$2 million on offer in the Empire Rose in November remains the ultimate goal.
“We will just get through the first two runs at Hastings and then we will go from there, but we are looking at the Empire Rose in November,” Latta said.
The Palmerston North horsewoman was also impressed with Group One winner He’s A Doozy’s 1200m trial on Tuesday, finishing runner-up behind Group One performer Spring Tide in their heat.
“He is on track to head to the Tarzino (Group 1, 1400m) fresh-up. I am very happy with the way he is coming up,” she said.
“The 1400m will probably be a touch sharp for him but you would think the mile and the 2000m would be right up his alley.”
The Zacinto gelding had a standout season last term, winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) and Group 3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), and Latta is eyeing a possible return to Riccarton in November to try and defend his crown in the latter race.
“A lot will depend on what he does at Hastings in those first two races because we are not totally convinced that he is a 2000m horse,” she said.
The lightly-raced Lincoln Falls is on the comeback trail for Latta and he impressed her with his 1000m hit-out on Tuesday.
The eight-year-old gelding has only had 12 raceday outings for three wins, and finished fourth in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) and fifth in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) and Group 2 Waikato Guineas (1400m).
However, he has been plagued by injuries since, having only had four starts since his three-year-old term, and while his racing career looked over, scans have revealed time has been on his side.
“He has broken down twice and we have just brought him back slowly,” Latta said.
“The last time we brought him back, the tracks were starting to get really rain-affected and that didn’t suit him and then he ended up doing his tendon.
“We turned him out for 12 months, thinking that we would send him away to be a pleasure horse.
“When we got him back in, his tendon was so straight, and we scanned it and the vet could barely tell which one he had done.
“We thought with the synthetic track now up in use it is quite good for those sort of horses because they are working on a very consistent surface.
“He trialled up really well, I couldn’t be happier with him, but he is a day-to-day proposition.”
Latta was just as pleased with the trials of stakes performer Chikira Lass and Group One performer Charms Star, with the latter having returned from a four-start Australian autumn campaign.
“Chikira Lass got some black-type last time in,” Latta said.
“She has gotten stronger and stronger. She generally trials well fresh. She might go to Awapuni next week if it is not bottomless, although it is not looking great at the moment. Otherwise, we might trial her again.
“Charms Star is a really strong mare this time in. We would dearly love to get her down for the New Zealand Cup (Group 3, 3200m) this year, so we will base ourselves around that.”
Meanwhile, Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Platinum Invador has also returned from an Australian campaign and is set to trial next week ahead of his raceday resumption.
“He only had four weeks off. We spelled him over in Australia and he has come back in good order and hasn’t lost too much fitness,” Latta said.
“He will head to the Taupo trials next week.”
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