Despite the challenges posed by New Zealand’s weather and track conditions at this time of the year, Cambridge trainer Tony Pike believes his multiple black-type performer Poetic Champion is ready to kick off his three-year-old season at Hastings next weekend.
The final piece of that puzzle fell into place with a 950m trial on Cambridge’s synthetic track on Friday, which Poetic Champion won by a length and a quarter.
He was ridden by Matt Cartwright and beat a line-up that included talented older rivals Tossuforit, Cornelia and Val Di Zoldo.
Pike has now given Poetic Champion the green light to resume in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival next Saturday.
“He’s come back in great order,” Pike said.
“We’ve been a bit held up with the lack of trial options on the grass. He had been due to trial at Te Awamutu on Tuesday, but those trials were called off. We had the chance to trial on the synthetic today instead and I thought he went very well.
“At this stage he’ll resume in the Listed three-year-old race at Hastings next weekend. I’m very happy with how he’s coming up.”
One of three first-crop stakes performers last season for exciting Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth, Poetic Champion won by six lengths on debut at Hawera last October before finishing third in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), second in the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), sixth in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), second in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and sixth in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
Pike has nominated him for the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9.
Poetic Champion was just one of more than half a dozen Pike-trained three-year-olds to trial at Cambridge on Friday.
Raziah and Arundel Castle won maiden three-year-old heats over 950m and 800m respectively, while Thooza – a highly impressive winner at Te Rapa in late April in her only two-year-old start – finished midfield in an open 950m heat.
“Raziah and Arundel Castle both seem to have come back well,” Pike said.
“Raziah showed good ability last season and was stakes-placed. We’ll have a look at options for her. There’s a chance she’ll go down to the South Island nice and early for something like the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m).
“Thooza didn’t trial that well on the synthetic as a two-year-old, but I thought her trial today was okay. We’ll look at taking her to Ellerslie for a trial on the grass in 11 days’ time, which should suit her better.”
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