Racing: Australian Cup trip plans

Close Up will be seeking to improve his rating to start in the Easter Hcp on April 18.Photo / Trish Dunell

Otaki race to decide whether Puccini will pursue first group one win across the Ditch.

A trip across the Tasman will be Puccini's reward if the dual group one winner races up to expectations at his next appearance.

The New Zealand Derby and last-start Thorndon Mile winner will make his next appearance in the Haunui Farm WFA Classic on February 21.

"He's nominated for the Australian Cup and if he happened to win or be very unlucky at Otaki then he'd go over to Melbourne for that," said Matamata horseman Jacob McKay, who trains the Encosta de Lago entire with his father Peter.

The Australian Cup (2000m) will be run at Flemington on March 14.

Puccini had a week off after coming from the back of the field to win the Thorndon in the hands of Danielle Johnson, who will retain the mount at Otaki.

"Given the opportunity to relax early on he showed what a devastating sprint he's got," McKay said.

Meanwhile, the stable's immediate focus will be at Ellerslie today, when they have Jimmy Hoffa in the Network Visuals 2100 and Alvesta in the Barfoot & Thompson Twilight Cup.

"Jimmy Hoffa has put in some nice races and a couple of times he's been stuck for a run," McKay said.

A past winner over 2100m at Auckland, Jimmy Hoffa was successful at Te Rapa three runs back and last time out he finished third back at Ellerslie.

"Alvesta hasn't been going bad races, but he's in a tough rating now and he's consistent enough to keep him up in the handicap," McKay said.

"We've changed his work around a bit and he'll have the blinkers on."

Another Matamata trainer Mark Lupton intends to get up close and personal with a group one feature in the autumn.

He has targeted the Manco Easter Hcp with his exciting 4-year-old Close Up, but concedes the gelding needs to further improve on his record to confirm the Auckland master plan.

"He's got to win at least one more," Lupton said. "I'll probably run him on Saturday at Ellerslie in the Rating 85 over 1200m.

"He had 2 weeks off after his win on Boxing Day and he's had a couple of gallops since he came back. He went terrific on Saturday and I'm pretty happy with him.

"He's off a Rating 77 and Mark Du Plessis will ride him with no weight on. Longer-term the Easter is the target."

Close Up joined Lupton's stable after a bout of ill health suffered by his co-breeder and part-owner Shelley Hale, who prepared the son of Shinko King to break his maiden at Matamata last season.

He has since won three of his four starts from his new quarters with his only defeat at Ellerslie when fifth behind the subsequent Cal Isuzu Stakes winner Sports Illustrated.

"He's got some ability this horse and I don't really know yet how good he is," Lupton said.

"He's not a big horse, but he's very solid. He weighs over 500kg and you wouldn't think that to look at him."

By Shinko King, Close Up is a brother to the Hong Kong group one winner Thumbs Up and to Sum Up, the group-placed winner of six races.

"I've also got the 4-year-old brother called Seventh Up, who hasn't raced yet but I'm happy with what he's showed so far. He looks like Thumbs Up and he'll trial in a couple of weeks."

Upcoming campaigns

• Puccini is on trial for a trip to Flemington.

• McKay stable has a couple of each-way hopes at Ellerslie today.

• Close Up needs to be more than that next start to start in the Easter Hcp.

NZ Racing Desk.