Trainer Hollie Wynyard with the classy Scott Base, a top contender in the Tarzino Trophy. Photo / Sharon Chapman
Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard are the rising force among New Zealand's galloping trainers and will attempt to prove that starting today in the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings.
With their classy Scott Base the pair will attempt to become the first to win all three legs of the Hawke's Bay spring treble.
If you think that's easy, it's not. Some classy types have attempted it and failed, although to be fair Kawi almost certainly would have been the first after being fabulous winning the first two legs in 2016, only to see the meeting abandoned after a couple of races on the final day.
A bit more than a decade back, Starcraft won the first two legs brilliantly then was run down in the 2040m final leg. Many assumed it was the distance of the last leg that tripped him up and the following season he became a 1600m specialist in Europe, but he won the 2400m Australian Derby, even if that is a somewhat easier distance accom-plishment against his own age.
This is never an easy race to predict with a range of topline horses at different levels of fitness mainly because of wet New Zealand winters and early spring. There are stayers that can sprint 1400m fresh and some that can't but will improve.
Scott Base has won four of his 12 raceday appearances, which does not suggest greatness, but he has become better. His peak runs have been phenomenal, evidenced by his final effort last season to win the 1400m Wellington Guineas.
You would not have backed him with stolen money when at the back of the main body of the field with 300m left. How he got up on the line to win by the shortest nose decision of the season is still difficult to get your head around. Perhaps his final 600m time of 33.19 explains it best. That's Winx's range. There is every reason to believe this season as a four-year-old will be his best.
Benner resisted a strong temptation to run in the Foxbridge Plate two weeks ago. Instead, he trialled Scott Base at Taupo and was delighted with his three-length second to Ocean Emperor.
"At that point I thought he might be just a tad away from being ready for this group one, but when he galloped with Wyndspelle at Foxton the other morning I realised I had under-estimated that. The way he recovered after the gallop told me he is very close to being ready. His work was terrific.
"He is a very lethal horse when fresh."
Scott Base is not speedy early, which is almost certainly going to be his big danger today. A lot of the opposition is very fresh and the speed will almost certainly be on throughout. On one level that will suit because once balanced in the home straight, Scott Base can really motor home and a sit-and-sprint would be against him late in the race. Few ride this type of horse better than his jockey Vinny Colgan.
Benner feels Wyndspelle may not be quite as ready as his stablemate for a first-up 1400m, but be warned this is a much classier type than generally felt. After a big three-year-old season in New Zealand, Wyndspelle went to Melbourne to be trained. He has won only two races, but ran against some top fields in Australia and has pulled in $342,241 in stakes.
Look for Wyndspelle to be charging home late, quite possibly into the trifecta. Jason Waddell rides him from a handy gate.
With a Sydney trip behind him, which trainer Peter Loch declares has made him finally grow up, Hiflyer is going to take beating. He finished fourth in both his Rosehill races against reasonably strong opposition, but more importantly, with 59.5kg topweight in each event.
Hugh Bowman was suitably impressed after Hiflyer sat wide in his final race and never looked like tossing it in close to home. His inside gate is a blessing.
Melody Belle deserves her favouritism. In the Foxbridge Plate the grit she displayed in a crushing finish with the classy Julius was astonishing for a mare that is on the smaller side of average in stature.
The big question is how much such a fresh-up run - which is never ideal - may have dragged out of her. If the answer is nothing that is a huge credit to her physical makeup and to Jamie Richards' training. She will start from barrier No7 without scratchings.
Jon Snow is the interesting runner. He has not won at the 1400m distance but he is all class and often stayers can run a smart 1400m when fresh. The Baker/Forsman stable has given him two barrier trials to fit him for tomorrow. He has finished second in both and a placing would not greatly surprise. A win would not stagger.
The Ruakaka meeting today is not your usual fare. The fields are, overall, among the best carded for the north.
The fields include Danzdanz-dance, Hello It's Me, Ugo Foscolo, Vinevale, Excalibur, three-year-olds Melt, Not Usual Current, Star Performance, Wisdom Patch and up-and-comers, Amazing Az, Aim Smart and Marbles.
You could wrap any race meeting around that bunch.
Tarzino Trophy
•First group one of the season.
•It includes high-class horses from the past two seasons.
•Foxbridge Plate winner Melody Belle and fresh runner Scott Base will be prominent.