Leading owners Peter and Philip Vela should make an impression at Hastings today.
The Velas will be represented by the unbeaten filly Macchiato the last start winner Ethereal and the well related Romanee St Vivant.
Hastings has treated the Velas well in the past and their wins on the course include a Hawkes Bay Cup with Finezza Bella and three wins - with Noble Heights, Zino Belle and Sarwatch - in the Highview Stakes.
Macchinato, who is trained by Mark Walker, will be the one to beat in the class two 1600m.
The Night Shift filly was a runaway maiden winner over 1200m at Rotorua at her debut and then won over 1400m at Pukekohe.
She has drawn the outside barrier in a nine-horse field today but started from the outside draw at her debut and also drew wide at Pukehoke.
Jim Collett has ridden Macchiato in both her starts and is bypassing the premier meeting at Ellerslie to continue his association with the filly.
"She's pretty smart and should be going on to better races," Collett told the Dominion newspaper.
Walker is using the trip to Hastings as an educational tool for Macchiato.
"She has only one trial before her debut so she's still relatively green," Walker said.
"I want to give her a trip away, to educate her more. I don't know that she has beaten a lot but all you can do is win, and I'm very happy with her."
Walker will also run Tudor Bay, Jet Zee, Itti Bit and Freedom Two at Hastings.
Tudor Bay, who has drawn well in the open 1600m, ran third at Ellerslie at his last start, and Jet Zee will be an improver for the three-year-old 1200m. Jet Zee failed at Avondale at her last start but was having her first run for six weeks.
"She was a bit above herself and over raced so we decided to back her up on Saturday, and she should go close," Walker said.
Freedom Two, a Volksraad filly, has been a trials winner but has a wide draw to overcome in the juvenile (1200).
"She's going down for the experience," Walker said.
Ethereal, who is trained by Sheila Laxon, gained a deserved maiden win when beating Latte at Pukekohe.
A Rhythm filly from Hong Kong Cup winner Romanee Conti, Ethereal raced in good company earlier in the season and finished a creditable sixth in the Highview Stakes at Hastings after missing the start.
Romanee St Vivant, a Jetball half-sister to Ethereal, began her race career in Australia, running fifth at Bendigo at her one start as a three-year-old.
Now with Leon Casey, she was unplaced in two New Zealand starts in the spring but was a trials winner at Cambridge last month.
- NZPA
Racing: Smart Macchiato on learning trip to Hastings
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