Maiden mare Sweet Ada from the Fannin barn and Oulaghan-trained geldings Jack Morrison and John Doe shared the time honours at Awapuni on Tuesday morning.
A couple of New Zealand’s feature two-mile contests are in the offing for Palmerston North stayer Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino) this season, but track conditions will play a key part in those plans.
Mark Oulaghan is hoping the extreme distance of Saturday’s 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) will play into the hands of West Coast (NZ), as his champion jumper attempts to rewrite the history books at Riccarton.
Lydia Pickford-trained five-year-old Andjustlikethat earned respect for the Egmont meeting when she galloped in good fashion at Awapuni on Thursday morning.
Bryce Newman is content on playing the long game with his talented filly Abbakiss (Microphone), who made a sharp return to the trials on Tuesday at Foxton.
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
