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Rondinella set for Melbourne campaign; Lincoln Falls to Hastings; Vespa produces two trial winners;
Rondinella set for Melbourne campaign
Group One performer Rondinella pleased her connections with her 1100m trial at Taupo on Wednesday ahead of her trip across the Tasman in the coming weeks.
She settled towards the tail of the field before being improved three-wide by jockey Vinnie Colgan and was strong to the line finishing third behind Aretha and Amarula.
"We were very pleased with the hit-out, she certainly needed it," said Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James.
"She had a nice, natural blow. I have been happy with her preparation, she looks very well and her coat is still to come. She needed the trial today, but I am very happy with her."
The five-year-old daughter of Ocean Park ran third in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) and fourth in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in autumn and her trainers are aiming to improve on that record this spring.
"We will just see how she pulls up before we firm up plans, but she will probably either step out in the Memsie (Gr.1, 1400m) or Feehan Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m)," Wellwood said.
Lincoln Falls to Hastings
Talented four-year-old Lincoln Falls has pleased trainer Lisa Latta as he readies for a new campaign.
The son of Dundeel was strong through the line at the end of a 1000m trial at Foxton on Tuesday, finishing fourth behind Not Santa after coming from the tail of the field.
A winner of two of his eight starts, Lincoln Falls finished fifth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), and the gelding will resume at Hastings on Saturday week in a rating 72 over 1300m.
Vespa produces two trial winners
Wellfield Stud stallion Vespa's first crop of juveniles are starting to hit the track and are showing promising signs, with two trials winners on Tuesday.
A Stephen Autridge-trained filly, out of two win mare Langara, won her 650m heat at Te Rapa by half a length, while the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained Piaggio looked impressive when taking out his 600m heat at Foxton by five lengths.
"He's a neat tidy horse with a fair bit of ability," Benner said. "He looks like his sire and wouldn't it be nice if he turned out to be as good as him."
Vespa was himself New Zealand's Champion two-year-old of his year, winning the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Million (1200m) for Benner.
He stands for a fee of $5,000+GST at Wellfield Stud with a second mare under the same ownership being free.
