Racing: Otaki pencilled in for group one hope

Maybe Miami seems to get better on the road. Photo / Race Images

Maybe Miami is likely to hit the road earlier than originally planned in his bid for group one honours.

The Riccarton galloper has been set for the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings and the harsh southern winter has made the task of getting him ready a tricky one for trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes.

"It's been difficult with the terrible weather we've had," Kevin Hughes said. "He's done enough ground work, but he needs a suitable lead-up race to sharpen him up.

"At this stage, we're going to go up early for a race at Otaki and, all going well, on to the Tarzino after that."

Thought had also been given to running Maybe Miami in the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate on August 19.

"We looked at that, but it's just too big a journey to get all the way to Te Rapa," Hughes said.

Maybe Miami is a dual stakes winner having won at Listed level in the Timaru Stakes and in the Flying Handicap at Awapuni.On previous northern forays, the son of Iffraaj finished fourth in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes and fifth in the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic.

"He's a good traveller, in fact he seems to get better on the road," Hughes said. "He never misses an oat."

While Maybe Miami has won once over a mile, the gelding is seen as a specialist 1400m performer.

"He may go further this year, but 1400 is his best distance," Hughes said. "He likes to run just off the pace and then he can get home strongly."

- NZ Racing Desk