Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is going through a rebuilding phase at present and is excited about the prospects of a number of youngsters in his barn.
As a result, he is likely to have limited representation during the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, but is hopeful of having a bigger presence at carnivals later in the season.
“We have sold a lot of horses in the last 12 months and have got a really nice young team coming through now,” Pike said.
“We’ll probably take 20 to the trials at Avondale next Tuesday and we had a lot trial nicely at Te Rapa, so hopefully two or three of them will put their hands up to get down to Riccarton for the (Cup) carnival.”
One filly Pike has pencilled in for Hawke’s Bay is Impendabelle (Impending), who won last season’s Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and ended her campaign when fifth in the Karaka 2YO Million (1200m).
“She trialled super at Te Rapa and will have a quiet one in the Group and Listed trial at Taupo and then go straight to the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m),” he said.
“She had the form on the board as a two-year-old and looks to have come back in good shape.
“From an older horse point of view, Not Guilty has come back a lot stronger and should be competitive in a lot of the nicer sprints up to Group Two and Three level.”
Not Guilty (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt) has won four of her 12 starts and was spelled after finishing runner-up in the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) at Hastings in April.
“She will probably kick off at Te Rapa on September 17 and then could go to Hastings for the Red Badge Spring Sprint (Gr.3, 1400m).
“She could be a perfect one to head down to Christchurch, if they’re got a plane going, for the Stewards (Gr.3, 1200m) or the Valachi Downs Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m).”
