Otaki pair to relish Hastings
Trainers reckon Scott Base and Wyndspelle will enjoy the step up
Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard will have two strong chances in Saturday’s Group One Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings, and the couple couldn’t be happier with their charges heading into the mile feature.
Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) winner Scott Base ran home strongly in the first leg of Hawke’s Bay’s triple crown, the Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m), while Group Two winner Wyndspelle pleased connections with his sixth-placing.
“They were two of the better runs in the race I’d say,” Benner said.
“I couldn’t really fault them and 1600m looks good for both horses.”
Benner has been pleased with the pair’s work since their first-up run and believes they will both relish the stepup in distance to a mile. “We couldn’t be happier heading into Saturday.
“Everything is going to plan, they have both been working well and they are in good order. We have got two nice draws [Scott Base — 6, Wyndspelle — 4] to work with, so we’re pretty happy.”
All going to plan both runners will back-up in the Group One Livamol Classic (2040m) on the last day of the carnival, before Scott Base could potentially continue his spring campaign in Australia, where his trainers have previously campaigned Group One winners Humidor and Vespa.
“There’s two weeks into the last one [Livamol Classic] which is appealing enough for them both, but we’ll just get through Saturday,” Benner said. “Scott Base could potentially head to Australia [after the Livamol Classic].”
Benner said he and partner Wynyard enjoy training out of their small operation at Otaki, where they have access to the nearby beach, which has been well utilised by Scott Base and Wyndspelle since their return from Hastings.
“We have 20 in work the entire time, we have a nice set-up right on Otaki racecourse,” Benner said.
“We have got Otaki to ourselves really, it has good training facilities.
“We’ve got the beach and these horses spend quite a bit of time out there and they enjoy it.”
● One month after his comeback seventh in the Group Two Lisa
Chittick Foxbridge Plate, former Singapore champion galloper War Affair produced a smart performance to win an 1100m trial at Te Rapa on Tuesday.
Trained by Stephen Marsh the 2014 Singapore Horse of the Year will target the Group Three Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m).