Racing: Guy pair in battle to make field for first spring feature

Galaxy Miss (blue cap, white stars). Photo / Trish Dunell

Danica Guy is facing a race against the ratings to have dual representation in the opening group one contest of the new season.

The Matamata trainer has the capable pair of Capella and Galaxy Miss short-listed for the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings, but work has to be done to get them into the final line-up.

Rising 5-year-old Capella has been sparingly-raced and is the winner of three of her 12 starts, including the group two Eight Carat Classic last season and she was also fourth in the New Zealand Derby.

The daughter of Rip Van Winkle has been restricted to four appearances this term and she hasn't raced since finishing fifth in the group two Rich Hill Mile.

"She's coming up really well and she's had her first gallop," Guy said. "I don't know if she will make it into the first race at Hawkes Bay on rating points, we'll have to wait and see what happens.

"She is a really happy horse though, and we'll probably look for a nice Rating 85 race somewhere for her first-up."

Capella currently sits on a rating of 84 with Galaxy Miss four points better.

"I gave her a couple of weeks off after her last run," Guy said. "She's back in work now and I may run her in an open 1200 at Te Rapa.

"We'll see if she can get to the Foxbridge Plate and Hawkes Bay. We would love to pinch some black type with her before she goes off to stud."

Galaxy Miss has won six races and ran fourth at her last appearance in the listed Tauranga Classic, her first outing at stakes level.

Meanwhile, one of New Zealand's best sprinters is getting bigger, and hopefully better.

Group one-winning sprinter Signify has moved up a weight division.

The gifted short-course performer has been back in Alex Cowan's Ashburton stable for a couple of weeks after returning from a good break.

"He went out a fit and happy horse after he won the Lightning at Wellington," said Cowan, who trains the Telegraph winner for his wife Tracey.

"He looks terrific and he's weighed in at 568kg and last time around he was 554 when he first came in. He's a much better version now."

Signify's first major target will come during the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton.

"That will be the Stewards and we'll work backwards from there," said Cowan, whose daughter Kate has made an encouraging start to her apprenticeship with Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers.

"There's a race at Ashburton in September that he might kick off in."

Signify will subsequently hit the road for the major North Island sprints.

"I'd really like to go to Auckland for the Railway and then the Telegraph again," Cowan said.

- NZ Racing Desk