Group One winner Prowess, who had faced a couple of setbacks recently, finally made her season debut in an exhibition gallop alongside stablemate Contemplation at Matamata on Wednesday.
“She banged a hock a bit over a month ago,” said co-trainer Roger Wellwood.
“It was treated aggressively as well as we could, but it just didn’t resolve so we had to take more drastic measures, which meant she had a bandage on and couldn’t work for five days, so that stopped us from getting to her first-up target.”
“We got over that and thought we were back on track, and she was meant to trial at Taupo last Friday prior to the races and unfortunately stood on a stone and put a puncture into her sole.”
Despite these minor setbacks, Prowess is now back on track, and her connections were pleased to see her perform well during her recent gallop.
“It is great to be here and have her back at a track. We have got a beautiful surface here and it was a great opportunity,” mentioned Wellwood.
“We were very happy with the work she did. She has had a good blow from that and it is going to bring her along nicely.”
Originally aimed at the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia, Prowess’s plans have been adjusted.
“At this stage (her first-up run will be) on October 7 at Hawera in the Breeders’ Stakes (Group 3, 1400m), but if the weather is terrible, there is a fillies and mares 1400m race at Flemington on the same day.”
The trainers plan to give her one run in New Zealand before considering international races.
“We are still hoping to be there Cox Plate Day, albeit not in the Cox Plate. Another weight-for-age Group Two mile, which will give her a look around The Valley and it will be a good race for her three weeks after her first-up run,” Wellwood added.
“All going well, we would love to be at the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival for the 2000m Champions Stakes (Group 1).”
Regarding Contemplation, who is a Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) runner-up, Wellwood said, “He had his first-up run and still looked quite pretty when he came back from it, so it was a good opportunity for him today to have a good hit-out on a good surface.”
He mentioned that there are multiple options for Contemplation in the coming weeks, including a possible trip to Christchurch for the New Zealand Cup (Group 3, 3200m).
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