Winter targets now await Group 3-winning sprinter Johny Johny following his pleasing trial at Te Awamutu on Tuesday.
The Tim and Margaret Carter-trained six-year-old was in fine form over the same period last year, winning four consecutive races, culminating in the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa in October.
The firmer tracks didn’t suit the son of Charm Spirit in his three outings over summer and he went for a spell following his last-placed finish in the Group 1 Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day.
The Carters were pleased with his trial on Tuesday where he led from start to finish in his 850m heat.
“He had a bit of a blowout today and he needed it, so that was good,” Tim Carter said.
“He seems to like the cut out of the ground, he didn’t seem that happy on those firmer tracks, so we thought we would give him a decent break and see what he can do through the winter and go from there.
“There is not a lot around for him because of the weight, he is always going to carry a bit of weight, but we are just going to pick and choose where we go a little bit.
“Long-term we are probably looking at aiming towards the Foxbridge (Group 2, 1200m), but we will take him quietly through. He has come up well.”
Stablemate Fortune Family also pleased with his runner-up effort in his 850m heat, and Carter is looking forward to the two-year-old son of Super Seth making his raceday debut.
“He went a nice trial and he will race here in New Zealand. Joe Doyle (jockey) was quite happy with him,” Carter said.
The stable has a number of youngsters coming through and Carter said his wife, Margaret, is particularly excited about the prospects of a rising two-year-old.
“We have got quite a few two-year-olds coming up,” he said.
“Marg is really looking forward to racing a filly by Complacent, which is a rising two-year-old, so we will see how we go with her. She is out of a mare called Shining Light, which was a Star Way mare.”
Shining Light was trained by John Sargent and was placed at stakes level on five occasions, including the Group 2 Hawke’s bay Gold Cup (2200m), Group 3 Rotorua Cup (2170m), Group 3 Cuddles Stakes (1600m), Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) and Listed Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m).
She has also left her mark as a broodmare, being the dam of Group 1 performer Vassilator.
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