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Bright outlook for Kiwi gelding; Te Aroha double for Belardo; Stakes increase for Taupo Cup
Bright outlook for Kiwi gelding
Brothers Ben and JD Hayes will be looking to secure their first elite-level scalp in their fledgling training partnership when Mr Brightside lines-up in the Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The New Zealand-bred gelding boasts an impeccable form line, having won his last six races, including the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m) at Ballarat earlier this month.
His trainers now think is the right time to step the four-year-old up to Group One level.
"Now is the time and we're really excited about him," Ben Hayes said.
"He hasn't put a foot wrong the whole prep and hopefully he gets it right in the Grand Final.
"We were keeping him under wraps, but I think it is now time to release the brakes with him after six wins in a row.
"He gets in with the minimum weight (52kg). It looks a very winnable race for him this year with his form, so we've got to go for it, I think."
The four-year-old gelding was initially trained in New Zealand by Ralph Manning for whom he ran fifth in his sole New Zealand start before heading to Australia and joining the Ben and JD Hayes' Lindsay Park Racing operation.
Te Aroha double for Belardo
Haunui Farm stallion Belardo secured a winning double at Te Aroha on Thursday courtesy of Bella Luce in the Donaghys Epripor X 1000 and Verona in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m).
"It's just great to see Belardo get that result today," Haunui Farm's Mark Chitty said.
"It's fair to say he has had a quieter start to the season than we had hoped off the back of his Champion 2YO and First Season Sire titles, but the way in which those two fillies won today suggests they could be quite progressive which is exciting and given his is a sireline that gets better with age, hopefully the results will start to come."
Belardo is currently serving his fifth season at Haunui Farm in 2021 at a fee of $10,000 + GST.
Stakes increase for Taupo Cup
The Taupo Racing Club have announced this year's Harcourts Taupo Cup will run for a stake of $65,000 on December 30.
The club are very grateful to the support for the day from Harcourts Taupō, The Poverty Bay Turf Club and a host of local cup supporters from the Taupō Community.
All trainers with a horse in the cup field will go into a draw for a two week holiday at The Peninsular Resort in Mooloolaba with a two bedroom apartment valued at $4000.
Furthermore, all winning trainers on the day will go in another draw for 10 Bags of Horse Feed from Fiber Fresh.
