Racing: Hasselhoof to stay in handicap company

A start for the boom galloper Hasselhoof in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile has been ruled out.

"He's not suited by set weights and penalties at this stage of his life," said Donna Logan, who trains the exciting son of Tavistock with Chris Gibbs.

"He would get two kilos off Kawi and if it was a handicap he would get seven and it's such a long trip down to Trentham for our horses, it's easier to get them to Sydney."

Hasselhoof, whose half-brother (Lot 168) by Rip Van Winkle will be offered by Pencarrow Stud during the Premier Sale at Karaka, is instead likely to return to Ellerslie on January 24.

"Tentatively, we're looking at the Karaka Stayers' Cup on Karaka Million night," Logan said.

Unbeaten in six appearances, Hasselhoof is now the joint $8 favourite with Vavasour for the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, although a run in the two mile feature has yet to be locked in.

"We'll see what happens over the 2200 metres next time first - we'll know a lot more after that," Logan said.

In the meantime, the stable's focus is on their home meeting at Ruakaka on Tuesday.

"We've got a really nice team of young and untried stock ready to go," Logan said.

"Mongolian Machete is a lovely horse, Cambridge should be a really good chance as well as Segenhoe and Wyndspelle."

Mongolian Machete (race five) and Wyndspelle (race two) are trial winners making their first appearances while Cambridge (race six) was second on debut and Segenhoe (race eight) will appreciate the step up to a mile.

- NZ Racing Desk.