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Black-type mission for Vinnie’s Volley ;Tulloch for Invador;
Black-type mission for Vinnie’s Volley
Hawke’s Bay trainer John Bary was pleased with Vinne’s Volley’s fifth-placing in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday and he is hoping she can gain some black-type by season’s end.
“I was very proud of her. It was her first time in the big leagues,” Bary said.
“I know she had a light weight, but she ran fifth and was one and a-half lengths off some of the big boy sprinters in New Zealand, so I was very pleased with her.”
Bary is eyeing the Listed NZB Finance Sprint (1200m) at Hastings next month with his charge before putting her out in the spelling paddock in preparation for the spring.
“Here on the home track is a Listed 1200m,” he said. “We will just keep taking her through the grades quietly and I think she will strengthen up.
“I’d love to run third at Hastings, get that bit of black-type, then put her aside and come back in the spring with her.
“She is quietly going about her work and is really a nice horse to follow through the grades.”
Tulloch for Invador
Fresh from preparing a Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner last Saturday with Sentimental Miss, Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta has further classic success in mind with smart three-year-old gelding Platinum Invador.
The son of Redwood has enjoyed an easy few weeks since finishing third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and is now being aimed towards the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) on April 6.
“He had a week in the paddock after the Derby,” Latta said.
“He looks fantastic. He has been with Chrissy Bambry on the water treadmill and she sent me a video of him on Saturday and he was running around his paddock like he hadn’t raced for weeks.
“He will fly to Sydney next Monday and we’re going to go to the Tulloch (Gr.2, 2000m). He has proven he can back-up, so we thought that was a good option.”
After a luckless run in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Platinum Invador won at Otaki a week later to secure his place in the New Zealand Derby field.
He backed-up again the following week in the Derby and was a fast-finishing third after coming from last on the home bend.
Blake Shinn is booked to ride him in the Tulloch Stakes.
