Racing: Easy does it with galloper

What's The Story suffered an injury when he finished fifth at his last start. Photo / Trish Dunell

What's The Story's new trainer has high hopes of a successful return to racing for the Group One performer.

The son of Savabeel is now with Cambridge horseman Stephen Marsh after doing his previous racing from Stephen McKee's Ardmore stable.

What's The Story was narrowly beaten in last year's Group One New Zealand Derby and then finished sixth in the Group One Australian Derby before he was turned out. He then suffered an injury when he finished fifth when resuming in the spring at Ruakaka.

"He's obviously a very talented horse who's had a tendon problem," Marsh said.

"He's doing his rehabilitation with us, but he's yet to be worked under saddle. He's been on the treadmill, swimming and walking.

"He's having a month off now at Maara Grange and then he'll come back and do another stint on the treadmill and a bit of trackwork.

"We'll give him a long, slow build-up and he'll be ready to go in the summer. He could probably be right for the spring, but that would mean working him on wet tracks and we don't want to do that.

"He's a lovely type of horse and we're looking forward to the future with him."

Group One Thorndon Mile winner Thee Auld Floozie has returned to the stable with Marsh eyeing a first-up crack at the Group One Tarzino Trophy on the opening day of the Hawke's Bay spring carnival.

"She'll have one or two trials before that," he said. "She might have two runs at Hastings and she may go to Melbourne after that. There are a number of good options for mares over there."

Meanwhile, New Plymouth trainer Janelle Millar believes lightning has struck twice in an Australian black type winner's family.

She has a brother to the Group Two Brisbane Cup winner Chocante in her care and has growing confidence in Hermanito's longer-term prospects of emulating his sibling's efforts.

The Shocking three-year-old was an impressive debut winner at Wanganui last month with an effort that has attracted interest.

"There have been a few people sniffing around, but I told the owners it would need to be a pretty good offer as there's no reason why he couldn't be as good as his brother," Millar said.

Hermanito was successful over 1600 metres on a heavy track in his first appearance and was immediately rewarded with a break.

"I didn't think there was too much else around for him and he doesn't really like wet tracks," Millar said.

"He's definitely got the goods and there will be some nice races for him in the spring."

Millar isn't short of young talent in the stable, among them future black type contenders Effectav, Light Em Up and Tinkalicious.

The former beat the subsequent stakes winner Twoznotenough two runs back and was spelled after she finished an unlucky fifth in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup.

"She looks absolutely magnificent and she'll be getting her chance at more black type," Millar said.

"Tinkalicious was freshened after her last win. She's been very, very tidy and is another one we'll be looking for black type with."

The Nadeem three-year-old has two wins and a placing from her four starts while Light Em Up won successive races in the summer and finished fifth when resuming at Te Rapa.

"She had a throat operation following her last win," Millar said. "She's come back well and it was a magnificent effort first-up, she missed the kick and that cost her a place."

- NZ Racing Desk